American Cough Conference

Executives from Merck, Bellus Health, Bayer, and Shionogi highlighted their P2X3 data for chronic cough.

OTC cough medicines may have some temporary benefit, but they don't penetrate the nerves in the airways, which are believed to be the mechanism behind refractory chronic cough, says Jacky Smith, MB, ChB, FRCP, PhD, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Manchester and an honorary consultant at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

Behavioral cough suppression therapy can be used to help patients with chronic cough manage their cough, prevent a cough, and even trigger their cough less often, explained Laurie Slovarp, PhD, CCC-SLP, associate professor in the School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences at University of Montana.

Experts from around the world discussed how to best manage the clinical issues presented by patients with refractory chronic cough, who often spend years trying to find effective relief.

New antitussive trials are challenged by large placebo effects and the risk of the trial being unblinded due to adverse effects, explained Ron Eccles, BSc, PhD, DSc, emeritus professor at Cardiff University.

Updated guidelines for adults and children highlight confusion over the name of the condition and the need for greater evidence.

The placebo effect is a major problem in cough trials and can make it impossible to tell the true pharmacological effect of the medicine being studied, said Ron Eccles, BSc, PhD, DSc, emeritus professor at Cardiff University.

The P2X3 antagonists are the furthest along in the drug development process, but there are other potential drugs being evaluated to treat chronic cough, which currently has no FDA-approved therapies on the market, said Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD, chair of the American Cough Conference.

Desensitizing the cough reflex and new technologies based on artificial intelligence are some of the oral abstracts that Jacky Smith, MB, ChB, FRCP, PhD, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Manchester and an honorary consultant at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, who chairs that session, is looking forward to at the American Cough Conference.

The 2-day meeting of the American Cough Conference will cover new developments in the treatment of cough, as well as insights into the mechanisms and management of cough, said Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD, chair of the American Cough Conference.

Treating cough can be difficult. There are no FDA-approved therapies on the market in the United States, and companies with drugs in clinical trials have to contend with a large placebo effect.