Using inhaled Pitavastatin to treat asthma
Official title: Inhaled Pitavastatin for the Treatment of Asthma: A New Therapeutic Paradigm
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11120772 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people with asthma by using an inhaled version of a medication called Pitavastatin, which could improve breathing and reduce asthma attacks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $231,617 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI190779-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11120772 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who suffer from asthma and have not achieved adequate control with current therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with asthma who are not responsive to inhaled therapies or those with contraindications to statins may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of inhaled Pitavastatin as a new treatment option for asthma, aiming to improve symptom control and reduce acute exacerbations. The study focuses on developing a proprietary formulation of Pitavastatin for inhalation, as previous oral forms have shown poor effectiveness in reaching the airways. By testing this formulation in a human-relevant asthma model using non-human primates, the researchers hope to gather critical data before moving on to human clinical trials. This innovative approach seeks to leverage the anti-inflammatory properties of statins to provide better asthma management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a more effective inhaled therapy for asthma, improving quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of statins for asthma treatment has shown promise in pre-clinical models, this inhaled delivery method is a novel approach that has not yet been tested in human populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeki, Amir a. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Zeki, Amir a.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.