FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dupilumab Reduces Mucus in Patients’ Lungs; New Treatment Option for Moderate-to-Severe Asthma
The VESTIGE study is the first study to show a reduction in lung mucus buildup with asthma treatment.
NEW YORK, NY – Oct. 28, 2025 – Mucus buildup can block the airways in patients with asthma, but the typical treatment fails to reduce the mucus in patients’ lungs. A new research study shows that dupilumab reduces mucus buildup and improves breathing in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe asthma as soon as four weeks after treatment.
The study, “Effect of dupilumab on mucus burden in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma: the VESTIGE trial” was published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
“In moderate-to-severe asthma, a buildup of mucus in the lungs can obstruct breathing airways to the point where affected patients suffer limited breathing, severe asthma attacks, and even death,” said Celeste Porsbjerg, MD, PhD, one of the lead study authors and professor of severe asthma in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
While everyone has mucus, most of us go through life unbothered by it except when we have a cold or flu, for example. The extent of mucus is far different for patients with asthma, said De De Gardner, DrPh, chief research officer, Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN).
“For patients who experience increased mucus production with their asthma flares or attacks, it leads to increased stress/distress and anxiety. Sometimes the stuck mucus can cause gagging because it gets stuck and they can't expel it or cough it out.”
Mucus plugs in severe asthma result from pronounced type 2 airway inflammation, and have been found to persist for a long time in the airways.
Dr. Porsbjerg and colleagues found that with the reduction in mucus plugs, dupilumab treatment also improved patients’ breathing and lung function.
The effect of dupilumab on T2 inflammation was also confirmed by a significant reduction in exhaled nitric oxide, a marker of type 2 inflammation According to AAN, type 2 inflammation is a result of triggers such as allergens that cause the immune system to overreact.
This study gives us a new understanding of the role of mucus buildup in asthma that can be targeted with treatment. Dupilumab gives clinicians another option for treatment in severe cases. For patients, the benefits mean better lung function and an improved quality of life.
For more on the VESTIGE trial results and what they mean, listen to The Itch Podcast on Oct. 30. You may also tune in to the ATS Breathe Easy podcast on Nov. 4. New episodes of The ATS Breathe Easy Podcast publish each Tuesday. Watch us on YouTube and listen wherever you listen to podcasts.
The American Thoracic Society has extensive asthma resources for both clinicians and patients.
About the American Thoracic Society:
Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. Core activities of the Society’s more than 30,000 members are focused on leading scientific discoveries, advancing professional development, impacting global health, and transforming patient care. Key areas of member focus include developing clinical practice guidelines, hosting the annual International Conference, publishing four peer-reviewed journals, advocating for improved respiratory health globally, and developing an array of patient education and career development resources.
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