Teens with asthma get tailored treatment thanks to cheap genetic test

By Jessica Hamzelou

A cheap and simple genetic test can guide the treatment of children with asthma, improving their quality of life, according to the results of the first clinical trial of personalised treatment of asthma.

The treatment of asthma hasn’t changed much in the last 20 or 30 years. People who show symptoms of asthma tend to first be prescribed a drug that works on receptors in the airways and blood vessels, called beta-2 receptors. If that doesn’t work, they tend to be given inhaled steroids, which stop inflammation in the airways.

But many people still struggle …