Researchers from University College London (UCL), UCL Hospital (UCLH) and the Francis Crick Institute have revealed that a common drug used to treat cystic fibrosis has been shown to improve outcomes for patients living with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
According to clinical trial results published in eLife and supported by LifeArc, Genentech’s Pulmozyme (dornase alfa) also has the potential to treat other respiratory infections, such as those caused by influenza or bacterial pneumonia, as well as lung diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis.
Caused by a complication of being ill with COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia is an infection in the lungs caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the lungs to become inflamed and fill with fluid.
Researchers aimed to determine whether Pulmozyme could improve outcomes for 39 patients who were admitted to the hospital with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and who required oxygen.
Approximately 30 patients were randomised to receive twice-daily nebulised Pulmozyme in addition to best available care (BAC), which included dexamethasone, while nine patients were randomised to receive BAC only.
After measuring C-reactive protein levels in the blood over seven days or until patients were discharged from the hospital, results showed that patients treated with Pulmozyme had a 33% reduction in systemic inflammation, in addition to the reduction provided by dexamethasone.
Researchers aim to conduct larger clinical trials to determine whether Pulmozyme is safe and effective when treating severe COVID-19 pneumonia, with the potential for the drug to be trialled for other respiratory infections and conditions.
Dr Venizelos Papayannopoulos, senior author of the study from the Francis Crick Institute said: “[Pulmozyme] can be used to treat a wider variety of patients and gets right to the heart of the inflammatory response. Based on these results, we think it will be a valuable tool for tackling severe COVID-19 illness.”
Professor Joanna Porter, first author of the study from UCL Medicine and UCLH, commented: “If we can help patients recover more quickly and get home sooner, this would be great for them and also help to reduce pressure on the NHS.”
