AIR-NET- Testing anti-inflammatories for the treatment of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition where the airways of the lungs become widened and scarred. This makes it difficult to clear mucus, creating an environment where bacteria can grow and cause swelling and irritation. Over time, this constant inflammation can slowly damage lung tissue and make breathing more difficult. Currently, people manage symptoms with physiotherapy and antibiotics, but there are few treatments specifically designed to stop the underlying inflammation.

Developing entirely new medicines from scratch can take over a decade. To speed up the search for helpful therapies, the AIR-NET trial is looking at 'repurposing'. This means taking medicines that are already proven safe and licensed for other health conditions and testing whether their anti-inflammatory effects can also help people with bronchiectasis. The three drugs being tested are disulfiram, dipyridamole, and doxycycline.

In this trial, doctors are using a simple bedside sputum test called NEATstik to find people who have active swelling in their airways. By matching the right treatments to people with active inflammation, the researchers hope to discover whether one or more of these medicines can reduce flare-ups, soothe airway swelling, and improve daily life.

The study is being led by medical experts at the University of Dundee and funded by the medical charity LifeArc. Patient safety is closely tracked throughout the study by independent review panels after every small group of participants completes treatment.