New drug for lung disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

An anti-inflammatory drug shows promise as a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a clinical trial.
It is thought that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will become the third leading cause of death by 2020. The condition is linked to smoking and environmental pollution and involves inflammation and destruction of lung tissue. Now there may be new hope for those with COPD, thanks to a treatment tested by researchers at Leiden University, The Netherlands.

They looked at a group of 1157 patients with COPD in eleven centres and assigned them to varying doses of a new anti-inflammatory drug called roflumilast or placebo. Those on the drug experienced a reduction in respiratory symptoms and improved lung functioning, as well as improved quality of life, compared to those on the placebo. The researchers conclude that roflumilast is promising as a new therapeutic approach in COPD.

Source
The Lancet 13th August 2005