Feb 16, 2007
New treatments for COPD
A plea from a Sciencebase reader asking for more information on new treatments for COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, led me to do a search to find the specific novel therapy the reader mentioned. Apparently, there was a news item on US TV that referred to research in Mexico.
Well, my search turned up several new treatments for COPD. Medical News Today reported in January how combining a long-acting bronchodilator with an inhaled corticosteroid could reduce the number of exacerbations by 35%, but this was work carried out Germany, with no Mexican connection as far as I could tell. Then there were the more recent revelation that helium, the noble gas of squeaky voice fame, combined with 40% oxygen could increase the exercise capacity of patients with COPD by an average of 245%. Again, no Mexican connection, this time the research was Canadian.
A UK and Canadian collaboration has identified an inflammatory mechanism that could explain some of the most extreme symptoms and point to new treatments. Indeed, Imperial College’s Peter Barnes had shown previously that low doses of theophylline, a substance occurring in tea leaves can help relax the bronchial tubes in the lungs and render them more amenable to corticosteroid intervention than they would otherwise be.
It might be that one in ten of COPD flare-ups could be prevented by treating patients with antibiotics to rid them of the bacterium thought to cause these problems in a sub-group of patients.
COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US and in January this year the National Institutes of Health put up $13 million to the University of Pittsburgh to help researchers there understand better the disease and potentially find more effective treatments. COPD, some times known as chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) is most commonly associated with smoking tobacco (you’ve got a hugely increased risk of this disease if you have smoked an average of 20 cigarettes a day for 20 years or more across your lifetime) but the disease can also arise because of coal dust and other pollutants. I say disease, but it’s actually a combination of diseases chronic bronchitis (which is inflammatory, in nature, narrows airways and increases mucus production) and emphysema (destruction of lung tissue).
Still no Mexico connection, not even with a search on NCBI PubMed… Then I received another email from the Sciencebase correspondent who revised the original note to include the word “new” it was New Mexico…not old Mexico. I should have thought of that first off, but I didn’t. However, a quick search with new included brought up the item that I suspect our correspondent had heard about.
Apparently, the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute is collaborating with Dr Richard Crowell of the Albuquerque Veterans Administration Medical Center to begin a new study over the next three years that will enlist more than 3000 Albuquerque area residents at risk of COPD and lung cancer. Now, this isn’t quite the treatment breakthrough mentioned in the original email, but this looks like another promising lead in dealing with COPD.
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September 28th, 2009 at 7:52 am
@fred It sounds like a scam. As far as I know, stem cell from an animal will not be a match for human recipient in terms of biochemistry or genetics, it would simply be seen as an alien entity by the immune system, attacked and destroyed.
September 28th, 2009 at 5:54 am
I have heard of a Mexico treatment for COPD. There is a stem cell shot that patients receive (around $1,000).
The power of stem cells today is unclear, but we know they have a LOT of potential.
The problem with the stem cell shots given in Mexico is that they are usually sheep or horse stem cells. The research on whether or not animal stem cells is as effective is unclear. I have yet to find a relevant article or talk to someone firsthand who has received a shot. The problem is, even though some claim it is effective, it may be a placebo effect.
July 12th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
dear david,
at long last i have found somerone who might be able to help me, firstly i am a 66 year old male with advanced copd whom i might add is extreamly fit albeit me pft is serious so much so much so i was accepted onto a transplant programme for a double lung transplant at 64 however my health is still very good and since my age is now the promblem i have removed my name from the programme as e graduate in medical research i am very keen to participate in any forms of clinical trials invasive or otherwise as a last chance to improve my quality of life to date i have the easy breath wellness inhaler for diaphragm exercise it is very effective. so if you know of any drug trials or procedures recruiting at present please can you let me know
regards martin
April 8th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
http://www.fda.gov/CDER/da/da.htm
April 8th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
David I think I may have found what I’v been looking for , for so long. There is a new drug spelled
Ariflo (cilomilast) . GlaxoSmithKline has filed for drug approval with the
FDA. Do you know of any way we or I might be able to get more information on the progress and approval from FDA? Thank You for your help and time.
April 8th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Ty I understand that .I appericated you answering so fast.
April 8th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I presume you meant to ask why they’re “not” allowed to continue. It’s part of the ethical standards established to safeguard patients. A trial is a trial not a prescription service. There are additional regulatory hurdles before a drug can be approved for general use.
April 8th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
David have you heard of a new treatment being tested by Dutch doctors? It is called Roflumilast. I was wondering if you would know why , when someone is in a drug study and if the medicine helps them with no decernible side effects, they are allowed to continue to recieve the medicine?