A Bradford woman will be swapping inhalers for injections as part of a landmark clinical trial.
The ‘TIDE’ study will conduct tests on 420 people in 15 different countries across Europe.
The trial is taking place at the city's Patient Recruitment Centre (PRC), part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Lead Clinical Research Nurse Kim Storton said an injection of ‘Amlitelimab’, developed by global healthcare company, Sanofi, would hopefully eradicate the need for people with asthma to use inhalers.
Scientists are hoping to explore the safety, effectiveness and tolerability of an injection of the drug ‘Amlitelimab’ given to adults with the condition.
She said: “Participants are given an initial dose of the drug and then continue with the injections roughly every four weeks.
“Asthma can worsen at different times for different people; for some it can be triggered by seasonal allergens or through exertion through sports. Many conditions can cause flare ups but we hope that this new way of treating asthma can help a wide variety of sufferers.”
The first participant - and the first in Europe - is 61-year-old Elaine Walker, of Queensbury.
The former nurse, who worked in theatre at Bradford Royal Infirmary, started dealing with severe asthma aged 30.
She said: “I was pregnant with my second daughter. I began to feel unwell and I got to the point where I couldn’t breathe. I thought it was the position of the baby at first but it turned out to be asthma.
“Over the years I have been treated in Bradford as an emergency many times. There have been times when I’ve ended up in the hospital’s HDU (high dependency unit) and I have been ventilated and intubated four times.
“There have been some very frightening situations. I am really puzzled as to why I started to suffer with asthma as I have never smoked and asthma does not run in the family.”
Elaine, who has received three injections so far, explained that she will be involved with the study for a year, making visits to the PRC every four weeks and keeping a diary each morning and evening to record her peak flow tests.
If you want to participate in research studies and be informed about the health research happening at the Trust and its partners across the Bradford, Airedale and Craven District, sign up to the City of Research – Research As One’ registry here, https://cityofresearch.org/click-to-join/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here