Routine and inexpensive genetic testing could lead to more personalised asthma treatments, according to a new study.
It is known that certain asthma treatments work better for some people than others, but there are also some drugs that are likely to be ineffective and could cause negative side-effects in some people.
The new research, published in the journal Clinical Science, found that a drug called salmeterol, commonly given for the long-term control of asthma, works poorly in children with a particular genetic variant.
The researchers believe the results support the need for genetic tests to confirm which children are likely to respond well to certain medications. This could help doctors provide tailored treatments for children with asthma.
ELF is involved in two EU projects which are currently working to provide more tailored treatments for asthma and COPD. Visit the U-BIOPRED and AirPROM websites to find out more.