A new treatment for the common respiratory condition COPD was trialled with patients at Bradford Teaching Hospitals and has now received NICE approval for use in the NHS.
Consultant Respiratory Physician and Director of the NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) Bradford and West Yorkshire, Professor Dinesh Saralaya, led the UK trial to test the effectiveness of the drug Dupilumab in the treatment of COPD.
The drug has been approved for use in adults with uncontrolled COPD linked with type 2 inflammation (raised blood eosinophils) as it reduces flare-ups which can lead to significant symptoms for patients and emergency admissions to hospital.
There are around three million people with COPD in the country, and the new treatment is expected to help up to 400 patients in the Bradford district with severe COPD, which is one the leading cause of death in the UK and hospitalisations
Professor Saralaya, who has extensive experience in treating patients with COPD, hailed Dupilumab as a ‘gamechanger’ which showed a 31% reduction in serious symptoms leading to GP visits or hospital admissions. Over 50% of patients reported significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life.
“This is a one-of-a-kind treatment that has had tremendous benefits for patients with uncontrolled COPD: it reduces inflammation in the lungs which can cause serious and debilitating symptoms and lead to patients needing to stay in hospital,” said Professor Saralaya.
“I’m delighted and proud that some of our patients at Bradford Teaching Hospitals were among the first in the world to benefit from this drug. Their experience has led to NICE approval so the treatment will be available across the NHS and worldwide, keeping more people out of hospital and able to manage their symptoms with a much improved quality of life.”
Bradford Institute for Health Research’s Patient Recruitment Centre, which is now the NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC, was the lead site for the trial, known as NOTUS, and Professor Saralaya was the chief investigator of the trial in the UK.
Seven respiratory patients at Bradford were on the trial for the drug, manufactured by Sanofi. Recruitment started back in 2019 but was delayed due to the COVID pandemic and restarted in 2023, concluding the following year.
Dupilumab was made available for use in the NHS this month (June). It is already licensed for use for asthma, some forms of dermatitis and nasal polyps.
The drug is given every two weeks via an injection under the skin and patients will be able to self-administer it and stay on it indefinitely if it controls their symptoms. It will be prescribed by the hospitals’ COPD clinic and Virtual Ward and could also be used by GPs.
Dr Zanfur Khan, Consultant Respiratory Physician, will lead this service at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
Patient case study:
Sheila hails ‘wonder’ drug for letting her get on with life
Sheila Deacon from Bradford is a firm believer that research can make patients’ lives better, so she didn’t hesitate when offered the chance to trial a new drug for her COPD.
Having suffered from COPD for more than 15 years, often with severe breathing problems which led to hospital stays on a nebuliser and taking antibiotics and steroids to relieve her symptoms, the difference that Dupilumab made was transformative.
“It’s so scary when you can’t breathe,” said Sheila, 67. “It affects every part of your life and stops you doing so many things, you can’t even sleep right. When I started having the injection I felt better within a month and that continued while I was on it.
“I could do things with my family and grandchildren again; I could plan and not have to worry about finding a flat route to walk with no hills!”
Sheila, a former smoker, had taken part in a couple of research trials for COPD and asthma before and urges more patients to think about it if they are asked to by their hospital or GP practice.
“If you can help yourself and help others, why wouldn’t you do it? I had no side effects, and the trial proved the drug works. I’m so happy it’s now available on the NHS.”
She is also full of praise for Dr Saralaya, who has cared for her for many years. “He’s one of the heroes of my life, a real gentleman and passionate about his work. The whole team at Bradford Royal Infirmary is fantastic, they’re like your own family.”