A drug currently under testing for cancer treatment was recently found by scientists at the University of Edinburgh to be effective for asthma as well.

R-Roscovitine, the drug, was found to be effective in killing specific immune cells that may exacerbate asthma-associated symptoms.

From News-Medical.Net:

Eosinophils, found in the lungs and airways, help the body fight off parasitic infection. However, too many uncontrolled eosinophils can damage other cells that line the lung, contributing to inflammatory conditions such as asthma.

Researchers found that use of the drug caused the eosinophil cells to undergo a form of cell death known as apoptosis, a natural process where unwanted cells are removed from the body.

Professor Adriano Rossi, of the Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh who directed the study, said: “Steroids are commonly used to treat asthma but can have unwanted side-effects, while some asthma patients are also resistant to steroid treatment. It may well be that use of a drug, such as R-Roscovitine, or one that works in a similar same way, could offer an alternative to steroids, or be used in conjunction with steroid treatment for asthma patients.”

The finding is expected by many to provide an alternative way to treat asthmatic patients who show resistance to steroids.