By 
University of Melbourne Walter & Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research investigators seek to develop a novel asthma treatment addressing the underlying cause of the disease. Their attention has been on an investigational cancer treatment, which is currently well tolerated in clinical trials. Known as GSK126, it has the ability to reverse asthma-related inflammation. Their research results are reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight.
At present, medications prescribed for asthma only address symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness. Over 350 million are afflicted with asthma.
The University of Newcastle team report their results provide a rationale to expect utility of an EXH2 inhibitor as a therapeutic in uncontrolled disease, and not just as a prophylactic treatment. Their pre-clinical research reveals the inhibition of Ezh2 could reduce the overreaction by immune T cells leading to potential asthma relief.
The animal experiments for the pre-clinical research were reviewed and approved by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Animal Ethics Committee.
Lead Research/Investigator
Professor Stephen Nutt
Dr. Rhys Allan