(March 4, 2009 - Insidermedicine) The drug mepolizumab, which targets lung inflammation caused by immune system cells called eosinophils, can help reduce asthma attacks, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is some information about asthma:

•    It is a chronic condition of the air passages in the lungs.

•    Worldwide, about 300 million people suffer from asthma.

•    Those with asthma can enjoy a good quality of life if they use their asthma medication correctly.

Researchers from Glenfield Hospital in Leicester randomly assigned over 60 patients with severe asthma to receive an intravenous infusion of mepolizumab or a placebo once a month for a year.

Those who received mepoliziumab had fewer eosinophils in their blood and sputum. They had an average of only about 2 asthma attacks a week, compared with 3.4 for those on placebo. Mepolizumab users also had better scores on measurements of asthma-related quality of life.

We had a chance to speak with Prof. Ian Pavord, one of the authors of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today’s research highlights the role that lung inflammation caused by eosinophils plays in asthma.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.