An article released in the United Kingdom's Telegraph yesterday reports that a pre-existing drug may hold the key to preventing harmful effects of asbestos. According to Prof Jürg Tschopp of the University of Lausanne and colleagues in Europe and the United States, asbestos fibers cause chronic inflammation of the lungs linked to a complex of proteins known as Nalp3 inflammasome.

The same protein complex is associated with other conditions such as gout, which is treated with a drug called Anakinra. It is believed that Anakinra may be able to slow the progression of asbestosis by preventing dangerous inflammation. Anakinra, however, is unable to cure asbestosis or mesothelioma. Instead, it would be administered to people who have been exposed to asbestos and are at a high risk of contracting asbestos-related disease. Given Anakinra's success in treating gout, researchers are optimistic that the drug will be equally effective in preventing asbestos complications. Read the article here.