Inhaled Heparin Shows Promise in Treating Severe Respiratory Infections
A widely available and affordable drug,heparin,has demonstrated significant effectiveness in treating seriously ill COVID-19 patients,according to a new international study led by researchers at the โคAustralianโ National University (ANU) in collaboration with King’s College London. The findings suggest inhaled heparin could be a โคvaluable tool in combating severeโข respiratory illnesses.
The study,โ analyzing data from โขnearly 500 hospitalized COVID-19โข patients across six countries, revealed that thoseโ who inhaled heparin were half as likely to require ventilation and experienced a substantially lower risk ofโ death compared toโ patients receiving standard care.
Traditionally administered โas an injection to treat blood clots,this study utilized an inhaled form ofโข heparin,delivering โthe drug directly to the lungs. Heparin possesses โunique properties – it acts as an anticoagulant,while also exhibiting anti-inflammatory and broad-spectrum antiviral effects. โPrevious researchโ indicated improvements in breathing and oxygen levels in COVID-19 patients following inhaled heparin treatment.
Researchers believe the drug’s potential โextends beyond COVID-19,offering a promising approach to treating othre serious respiratory infections like pneumonia. “Inhaled heparin is anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant. There’s no other drug that has that unique combination,” explains Professor Clive Page, Emeritus Professor of pharmacology at King’s College London and co-lead author of the study. “We certainly know it’s only aโข matter of time until theโ next pandemic, and there are still COVID-19 patients who get very sick.This is a great weapon toโ have โขupโ our sleeve.”
Professor Frank van Haren, lead author from ANU โand Director of โtheโค Intensive care โขUnit at St George Hospital in Sydney,โค emphasizes the broad applicability of the treatment: “Itโข doesn’t matter what kind of respiratoryโ infection the patient is dealing with, the drugโ – when inhaled โ- will stop โit from โinfecting the patient and from damaging the lungs.” He also notes the drug’s accessibility, stating, “And because it’s inexpensive, it’s โmuch more accessible for those fromโ low-income countries.”
Theโ research team isโฃ currently working on developing an improved formulation of โheparin specifically designed for inhalation. Further โฃtrials, including one planned forโฃ Europe, will aim to confirmโ its effectiveness against common respiratory infections such as influenza and RSV. The findings โฃwere published in eClinicalMedicine and presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress โคin Amsterdam on Septemberโ 28th. The drug also shows promise for individuals with compromised immune systems, such as โcancer patients, experiencing respiratory infections.