Drug Promising for Acute Asthma Attack

A phase II study has demonstrated that an investigational intravenous formulation of a drug called montelukast plus standard therapy rapidly (within 20 minutes) improved pulmonary function in patients seeking emergency care for acute asthma, compared to placebo. The study was presented at the 97th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in San Francisco (CA, USA).

The study involved 201 patients with acute, severe asthma. The patients received standard therapy with beta-antagonists and oxygen prior to receiving montelukast. Patients could also receive other asthma medicines such as beta agonists and corticosteroids, as needed, after receiving the study medication. Patients who received the intravenous montelukast demonstrated a rapid improvement in pulmonary function as measured by average change in forced expiratory volume (FEV), compared to patients receiving placebo. The montelukast also reduced patients' need for additional therapy. The drug was generally well tolerated with an adverse experience profile similar to placebo.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (Atlanta, GA, USA), asthma accounted for more than 1.8 million visits to U.S. emergency rooms in 1995. Montelukast is the product of Merck & Co., Inc. (Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA). The company says a larger study is needed to confirm the current study's findings.

"While asthma is a chronic condition, acute events often lead patients to seek emergency care. When that occurs, it is important to relieve their symptoms as soon as possible,” said Dr. Carlos Camargo, chairman of the U.S. Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration.