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PACT: Testing the delivery of the best asthma treatment based on genetics

A study by researchers from across the UK, funded by Action Medical Research, is aiming to discover whether treating asthmatic children according to their genetic status can improve their quality of life and asthma control.

One in every 11 children in the UK has asthma. When asthma is well managed, children can lead full and active lives. Unfortunately, not all asthma is well controlled. There is evidence that the routinely used controller medication salmeterol is ineffective in 1 of 7 cases. Previous work by Professor Somnath Mukhopadhyay from Brighton and Sussex Medical School suggests that certain gene variations are linked to poor asthma control in children.

As a result, working with general practitioners, PACT is designed to assess the effectiveness of prescribing children, whose asthma is inadequately controlled, either salmeterol or montelukast according to their beta2 receptor genetic status compared to standard asthma management regimes. Participants’ genotype status is established from self-administered saliva tests.

PACT is novel as no hospital visits are required with all outcome data being completed by participants online at three monthly intervals for one year. This design allows participants to complete their quality of life and asthma control questionnaires at their convenience, with associated costs reduction.

At the end of the study, all participants and GPs will receive gene test and study results.

Healthcare professionals can find out more about the study at www.pactstudy.org.uk or by calling the Tayside Clinical Trials Unit on 01382 383932.

If your practice would like to take part, or would like further information, please get in contact with your local research facilitator

Wed 26 Jul 2017, 13:44 | Tags: Summer 2017 Study