To the Editor: Animal and human studies confirm the view that colonisation by non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) of airways already damaged by inhaled toxins initiates a second major pathway of damage in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This provides a framework for novel and effective management strategies for this condition, which has previously been considered to be a self-induced disease of elderly people for which nothing can be done.1
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- 1. Beyond the lungs: a new view of COPD [Editorial]. Lancet 2007; 370: 713.
- 2. Clancy RL, Dunkley ML. Acute exacerbations in COPD and their control with oral immunisation with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. Front Immunol 2011; 2: 7. Doi: 10.3389/fimmu. 2011.00007.
- 3. Clancy RL, Dunkley ML. Oral non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae enhances physiological mechanism of airways protection. Clin Exp Immunol 2010; 161: 127-133.
- 4. Foxwell AR, Cripps AW, Dear KBG. Haemophilus influenzae oral whole cell vaccination for preventing acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006; (4): CD001958.
- 5. Tandon MK, Phillips M, Waterer G, et al. Oral immunotherapy with inactivated nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae reduces severity of acute exacerbations in severe COPD. Chest 2010; 137: 805-811.
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Both authors are employed by the company working on the vaccine technology described in this letter and hold stock or stock options in the company.