Heralding a new era in how we treat bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is long-term lung condition that affects 1.3 million people in the UK. It causes the airways of the lungs to become widened and inflamed with thick mucus, making them more vulnerable to infection. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis are a persistent cough that brings up phlegm, and feeling breathless. It can be debilitating for some people, severely impacting their quality of life. 

There was no way to stop the cycle 

Until recently there was no specific treatment for bronchiectasis. People with the condition are prescribed antibiotics to deal with the frequent chest infections, but there has been no treatment to help stop the cycle. This means that the lungs can become more and more damaged over time, with more frequent infections and flare-ups of symptoms. 

A ground-breaking discovery  

However, Professor Chalmers has discovered the world’s first tailored therapy for bronchiectasis - a new drug called brensocatib. The drug was tested on people living with bronchiectasis and showed it can make a real improvement to their lung health, reducing inflammation and flare-ups.  
 
Making sure people have right diagnosis means that people can take part in clinical trials like those that led to the development of brensocatib. Participation in clinical research is crucial to help us to find better ways to diagnose, treat and even cure lung conditions. However, with many people having a delayed diagnosis, the rate at which we can make ground-breaking discoveries like this is currently hampered. Improving our ability to diagnose lung conditions at the earliest opportunity will not only mean that people can receive care as soon as possible, but it will also help widen the pool of people who can take part in crucial clinical trials.  

A simple way to people struggling to breathe 

This is huge news for everyone living with bronchiectasis and could be in people’s hands as early as 2026. Once it’s approved by NICE, people with bronchiectasis will be able to take a simple tablet to help treat and manage their condition – stopping them from struggling to breathe.  

This new drug could also transform the lives of people with other lung conditions too. Once the drug is approved for bronchiectasis, it could be tested to see if it can help to treat other lung conditions like asthma, COPD and IPF. Given that 12 million people in the UK will get a lung condition during their lifetime, this new drug – and James’s research – could make a huge difference to millions of people who struggle to breathe.  

Playing the long game 

The story behind this amazing breakthrough proves the importance of long-term investment in research.  

We first supported Professor Chalmers with a travel fellowship award in 2011, enabling him to present his work at the European Respiratory Society Congress. In 2017, we awarded him a prestigious ‘Chair’ grant award. This grant made him a professor and funded his team to carry out a five+ year programme of research to improve treatment of bronchiectasis.  

Following the success of his research with us, Professor Chalmers received funding from another organisation to run a clinical trial. After years of funding and years of support, this trial led to a massive leap forward: the discovery of brensocatib. 

Every element of the trial can be traced back to smaller pieces of funding that were awarded by Asthma + Lung UK. This trial couldn’t have happened without our supporters. And he’s not finished yet. He plans to carry on building on what he and his team have learned, to develop more life-changing next-generation treatments.