Promising Cough Syrup Ingredient Shows Potential in Treating Severe Lung Disease

Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a partner institution of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL) at the Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC) in Heidelberg, have discovered a promising compound for treating pulmonary fibrosis. Dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter medication commonly found in cough syrups and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), could play a key role in combating pulmonary fibrosis—a disease characterized by excessive scarring in the lungs and associated with severe health issues.

In a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine, EMBL researchers demonstrated that dextromethorphan can inhibit collagen formation, which causes scarring in cells, thereby reducing pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis often occurs in older adults and can result from environmental factors such as asbestos or mold exposure, as a side effect of chemotherapy, or from chronic lung diseases like tuberculosis. The disease leads to stiffening of lung tissue, causing breathing difficulties and decreased oxygen absorption, potentially resulting in organ failure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 761,000 people in Europe suffer from pulmonary fibrosis, with around 25,000 deaths annually attributed to the disease.

Muzamil Majid Khan, a DZL researcher at EMBL and first author of the study, stated: "After learning that there is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, I wanted to discover new drugs for this disease." The team chose to investigate already approved medications to expedite the development of new treatments, selecting dextromethorphan from a library of FDA-approved drugs. In collaboration with the TLRC Heidelberg and the DZL, the researchers examined how dextromethorphan affects collagen formation in human lung cells, employing advanced technologies to identify the drug's mechanisms of action. Using a specialized "scar-in-a-jar" assay, an in vitro method for studying pulmonary fibrosis, the scientists tested dextromethorphan's efficacy as a potential anti-fibrotic agent. Further experiments in mouse models and human lung tissue cultures confirmed the results. "Collaborating with DZL and the Thorax Clinic Heidelberg has enabled us to plan Phase II studies to investigate whether these findings are applicable to human patients," said Rainer Pepperkok, also a DZL researcher, EMBL group leader, and senior author of the study.

The researchers now aim to further explore how dextromethorphan works and which targets it affects in lung cells, with the goal of developing improved versions of the drug. "This discovery offers promising therapeutic potential, even though it is still fundamental research," concluded Pepperkok.

The EMBL is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to molecular biology research. Founded in 1974, it is supported by 29 member states and operates six sites across Europe: Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Hinxton (EMBL-EBI), and Rome. At these locations, over 110 independent research groups and service teams cover the entire spectrum of molecular biology.

Source:

Common cough syrup ingredient shows promise in treating serious lung disease | EMBL

Original publication:

Khan MM, Galea G, Jung J, Zukowska J, Lauer D, Tuechler N, Halavatyi A, Tischer C, Haberkant P, Stein F, Jung F, Landry JJM, Khan AM, Oorschot V, Becher I, Neumann B, Muley T, Winter H, Duerr J, Mall MA, Grassi A, de la Cueva E, Benes V, Gote-Schniering J, Savitski M, Pepperkok R. Dextromethorphan inhibits collagen and collagen-like cargo secretion to ameliorate lung fibrosis. Sci Transl Med. 2024 Dec 18;16(778):eadj3087. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj3087. Epub 2024 Dec 18. PMID: 39693409.