Dornase alfa (Pulmozyme) reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections by 34 per cent in patients with early-stage cystic fibrosis, according to trial data presented at the North American Cystic Fibrosis conference in Baltimore earlier this month.
The Pulmozyme Early Intervention Trial (PEIT) trial involved 474 patients aged between six and 10 years with early-stage cystic fibrosis who received either 2.5mg dornase alfa or placebo daily. Of these, the 239 who were treated with dornase alfa performed better than those receiving placebo in lung function tests, such as forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC1), and the risk of respiratory infection was a third lower than that of patients in the placebo group.
"This study is important because we are always looking for strategies that reduce respiratory tract infections, especially in our younger cystic fibosis patients," said Dr Peter Weller (consultant physician, Birmingham children's hospital).