Old drugs, new tricks: Repurposing heparin may offer hope to COPD patients

A pilot study, performed at the University of Portsmouth, has shown that a drug commonly used to thin blood, heparin, may offer a significant improvement in symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Currently, there is no cure for COPD and treatments do not prevent the steady worsening of symptoms — such as struggling to breathe, poor quality of life and often, early death. COPD is an umbrella term that describes the progressive loss of lung function and airflow limitation as a result of a combination of emphysema and small airways disease.

The study, led by Janis Shute — professor of Respiratory Pharmacology at the University of Portsmouth, evaluated the use of inhaled nebulized unfractionated heparin as a treatment for moderate-to-severe COPD. It was found to significantly improve ling function and a patient’s ability to exercise, without side-effects, additionally, it reduced the labored breathing, which is a common symptom.

“COPD is a rising global healthcare problem,” Shute explained. “It is clear that new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to alter the course of the disease and the progressive loss of lung function leading to significantly reduced quality of life and early death in patients.

“Current treatments are limited and none conclusively modify the long-term decline in lung function, so to find that inhaled heparin is safe and provides clear benefits to people with moderate to severe COPD is excellent and encouraging for further clinical trials.

“We knew heparin was a drug with what could be described as a complex and diverse molecular scaffold, making it suitable for multiple health treatments, from wound healing to anti-inflammatories. Our laboratory studies further showed that heparin has unique mucus thinning properties, making it easier for patients to clear their airways. That we saw such improved patient outcomes in a short time may reflect its unique pharmacological profile – it is naturally able to perform many roles.”

Inhaled heparin has also been shown to be safe and without side-effects in patients with cystic fibrosis. The investigators say more research is now needed to confirm the long-term safety of inhaled heparin in patients with COPD and cystic fibrosis.