DPP-1 inhibitor brensocatib lowers exacerbation frequency in bronchiectasis: NEJM

Delhi: The administration of brensocatib in bronchiectasis patients improves clinical outcomes of the disease, suggests a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Brensocatib prolonged the time to the first exacerbation and led to a lower frequency of exacerbations than placebo in patients with bronchiectasis. 

Bronchiectasis patients experience frequent exacerbations that are thought to be caused by neutrophil inflammation. The activity and quantity of neutrophil serine proteases, including neutrophil elastase, is increased in the sputum of bronchiectasis patients and increases even more during exacerbations. Brensocatib (INS1007) inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP-1) -- enzyme responsible for the activation of neutrophil serine proteases.

This phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed by James D. Chalmers, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee (J.D.C.), Scotland, and colleagues to determine the role of Brensocatib in the management of bronchiectasis patients. 

256 patients with bronchiectasis who had had at least two exacerbations in the previous year were randomly assigned in the ratio of 1:1:1 to receive placebo (n=87), 10 mg of brensocatib (n=82), or 25 mg of brensocatib (n=87) once daily for 24 weeks.