Aerocrine AB: Primary care trial supports FeNO-guided asthma treatment

SOLNA, Sweden — Aerocrine AB, a medical products company focused on improved management and care of patients with such inflammatory airway diseases as asthma, has announced that a new randomized clinical trial shows lower incidence of asthma exacerbations and increased asthma control with Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)-guided anti-inflammatory treatment.  



The study has been published on theweb site of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.



A total of 187 non-smoking asthma patients (ages 18 years to 64 years) with perennial allergy and on regular inhaled corticosteroid treatment were recruited at 17 primary healthcare centers in Sweden, randomly assigned to two groups and followed for one year. One group was treated with standard of care and treatment of the patients, and the other group was guided by FeNO. Aerocrine’s patented FeNO test, with the Niox Mino device was used in the study. In the standard of care group, FeNO was blinded for both patient and physician.



“FeNO-guided anti-inflammatory treatment enabled the physicians to optimize the treatment with, for example, inhaled corticosteroids, so that both over- and undertreatment can be avoided. This may be a useful tool in long-term management of patients with asthma,” stated Jörgen Syk, general practitioner at Runby primary care clinic in Stockholm, Sweden and the principal investigator in the study.



Overall, FeNO-guided management resulted in improved asthma symptom control and reduced exacerbation frequency in adults with asthma, the company stated. The FeNO-guided group reported almost 50% fewer asthma exacerbations without an increase in the used average dose of corticosteroids.



Although there was no difference in perceived quality of life, which was the primary endpoint of the study, between the groups, the FeNO-guided group reported fewer symptoms than the group following standard of care treatment.



“This is the third major, well-controlled, blinded trial to confirm that FeNO is a useful biomarker for the management of asthma by reducing exacerbations and managing the utilization of the appropriate medication at the correct time. This information further substantiates and strengthens the clinical evidence behind the American Thoracic Society guidelines. These guidelines also are endorsed by American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology,” said Scott Myers, CEO Aerocrine AB.