“…we hope that brensocatib can put a brake on the
devastation this disease causes, to literally stop COVID-19 when it begins
attacking the lungs.” - Professor James
Chalmers
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| The Tay Bridge- The iconic gateway to Dundee |
Dundee, the beautiful ‘city of Discovery’ in Scotland has
many firsts to its role in the field of medicine. One of the early noted examples
in its innovation history is the nineteenth century pivotal discovery by Thomas
Maclagan, a Physician at the Dundee Royal Infirmary. Maclagan was the first to
recognize the value of thermometers during a major fever epidemic, which led to
reducing death rates. Today, thermometers are the bedrock of medicine and
essential tools in clinical examination.
Now, Dundee may again play a crucial role in medicine, this time in the management of COVID-19 pandemic. In a major
collaborative venture between researchers from Dundee University School of
Medicine and Insmed, a biopharmaceutical company, the effectiveness of the
drug brensocatib as a potential treatment for COVID-19 will be evaluated in clinical trials at Ninewells hospital and other sites in the country.
Brensocatib is a novel oral, reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl
peptidase 1 (DPP1), an enzyme that catalyses the activation of neutrophil
serine proteases in neutrophils. In a study of 300 patients receiving standard
hospital care, half will be treated with Brensocatib, and the other half will
receive a placebo.
About 20% of COVID-19 patients develop inflammation of the
lungs, which may necessitate ventilation. Research shows that in severe cases
of COVID-19, the body’s own inflammatory response meant to clear the
virus goes on an ‘overdrive’ leading to lung damage, respiratory failure, and
death in severe cases.
Previous studies in patients with underlying lung disease
show reduction of lung inflammation by brensocatib.
The researchers hypothesise that the drug will confer similar beneficial
effects in COVID-19 patients and will explore whether it can reduce the
incidence of acute lung injury and prevent mechanical ventilation. They are
hopeful that the treatment could reduce the patients’ dependency on oxygen
support and reduce hospital stays thereby reducing the burden on an already overstretched
healthcare system.
Professor James Chalmers,
a Consultant Physician at the University who leads the trial says-
“High rates of
patients requiring ventilation and overwhelming intensive care unit capacity
has been a major cause of excess deaths around the world and we hope that
brensocatib can put a brake on the devastation this disease causes, to
literally stop COVID-19 when it begins attacking the lungs.”
https://investor.insmed.com/2020-04-23-Brensocatib-Formerly-INS1007-to-be-Studied-in-Patients-with-Severe-COVID-19-in-Investigator-Initiated-Trial
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