New drug given to patients with rare lung condition

Simone Hunter said the drug's commissioning was "very welcome news"

The first new drug approved for 50 years to treat a rare condition that creates swollen tissue on the lungs has been administered to patients.

Simone Hunter became the first person with pulmonary sarcoidosis to receive infliximab as part of her treatment for the condition at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Infliximab is currently used to treat inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn's disease, and has now been commissioned by the NHS for use in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The condition causes granulomas - lumps made up of clusters of cells involved in inflammation - to develop in organs, and most commonly affects the lungs.

Sarcoidosis can affect people of all ages and can be particularly severe in some cases - with patients often requiring multiple immunosuppressants to treat the condition.

It affects about 1 in 10,000 people in the UK, according the charity Sarcoidosis UK.

As well as the lungs it can also affect the skin, eyes, joints, nervous system, heart and other parts of the body.

Symptoms of pulmonary sarcoidosis include shortness of breath and a persistent dry cough, according to the NHS.

Prof Ling-Pei Ho was involved in the work that led to the drug's commissioning

Infliximab reduces the need for patients to rely on immunosuppressants - which can increase the risk of infections and further complications - by targeting a protein produced by overactive immune cells.

Ms Hunter said she was "excited about the possibility of reducing the number of medications I need".

"I have been on various immunosuppressants for a long time, and the side effects have started to surface," she said.

"The commissioning of this drug is very welcome news."

Prof Ling-Pei Ho, who is a consultant in respiratory medicine at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), was involved in the work that led to the drug's commissioning.

"We are very pleased to be able to offer a new medicine for our patients with severe lung sarcoidosis," she said.

Chief medical officer at OUH Prof Andrew Brent said that the new drug was "fantastic news" for patients.

"The commissioning of this drug is a great example of our teams' dedication to continually improving patient care," he added.