Drug hope for prem lungs

Monday December 15th, 2008

Drugs that already exist may hold the key to boosting lung development in premature babies, British researchers have reported.

Scientists say they have tracked down a key molecule that seems to control the development of the lungs in the womb.

The lack of development of the lungs is one of the key threats to babies born early - as the lungs complete their development late in pregnancy.

The laboratory studies at Cardiff University, Wales, suggest the molecule, CaR, responds to calcium, according to research published in the Journal of Physiology. The Cardiff researchers worked with scientists at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital, California, USA, on the project.

Researcher Professor Paul Kemp said a number of drugs already exist that regulate calcium.

He said: "If we can show that one of these drugs can modulate the action of CaR in the lung, it could be used to mature the lungs of a very premature baby as it grows. Better still, an existing drug could potentially be approved much more quickly than a new one."

Fellow researcher Dr Daniela Riccardi said: "Under-developed lungs don't absorb enough oxygen and premature babies with respiratory problems often develop chronic lung disease that may extend into adulthood.

"Through our research we have gained a better understanding of how lungs develop normally and so we can now begin to work out what happens when things go wrong, such as when a baby is born much too early.

"From the work we have published today, we now have a real possibility for fast-tracking new drugs for helping these very premature babies."

Journal of Physiology December 12 2008; DOI:10.1113/jphysiol.2008.161687

Tags: Child Health | Childbirth and Pregnancy | North America | Respiratory | UK News

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