Inhaled ATP for Chronic Cough

Overseen By Imran Satia, MD PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: McMaster University

Must not be taking: Corticosteroids

Disqualifiers: Smoking, Cardiovascular disease, Pulmonary disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

33 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests inhaled adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) to trigger a cough, assessing its function and safety. The goal is to better understand cough sensitivity in individuals with chronic cough or mild asthma and potentially discover improved treatments. Initial participants should be healthy adults without a history of chronic cough or respiratory diseases. As a Phase 1 trial, the research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people, offering participants the opportunity to be among the first to receive this new treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it requires that participants with serious medical conditions be on stable medications. If you have mild asthma, you should not have used inhaled or oral corticosteroids in the past month.

Is there any evidence suggesting that inhaled ATP is likely to be safe for humans?

Earlier studies have shown that inhaling ATP can tighten the airways in individuals with asthma, COPD, and healthy smokers, potentially making breathing difficult. However, these results vary among individuals. More recent research is investigating the safety of inhaling ATP, particularly for those with mild asthma and chronic cough.

Currently, inhaled ATP is undergoing testing in a phase 1 trial, the initial stage of human testing. Safety information from these trials remains limited as researchers assess potential side effects. So far, the focus is on the body's reaction to inhaled ATP and its tolerability. For personalized advice, consider consulting a medical professional. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard treatments for chronic cough, which often involve medications like codeine or dextromethorphan to suppress symptoms, inhaled ATP is unique because it targets the cough reflex directly. This approach uses adenosine 5'triphosphate (ATP) as the active ingredient, which is naturally present in the body and plays a key role in cellular energy transfer. Researchers are excited about this treatment because inhaling ATP could offer a more direct and potentially quicker way to alleviate chronic cough by modulating the cough reflex itself, rather than just masking symptoms.

What evidence suggests that inhaled ATP is effective for chronic cough?

Research shows that inhaling ATP can induce coughing by irritating the airways. Studies have found that ATP inhalation causes coughing in both healthy individuals and those with chronic cough. This occurs because ATP may increase airway sensitivity. In this trial, participants will receive inhaled ATP to study its effects. Although ATP itself causes coughing, the primary focus is on finding ways to block its effects, potentially aiding those with persistent coughs. Drugs known as P2X3 antagonists, which target ATP receptors, have shown promise in reducing cough symptoms. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy individuals and patients with mild asthma or chronic cough. It aims to understand the safety of inhaling ATP, a substance that can make people cough, to see if it's a reliable way to measure cough sensitivity.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18, have healthy lungs, and no history of chronic cough or lung diseases.

I have had a cough for over a year, with tests showing no lung issues, and treatments haven't helped.

Exclusion Criteria

History of psychiatric illness, drug, or alcohol abuse that could interfere with participation in the study

Those with serious medical conditions or those who are not on stable medication(s) for their condition(s)

Those with immune system disorders, severe allergy, or on allergy-specific immunotherapy

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

ATP Cough Challenge

Participants undergo inhalation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) to evoke cough and measure cough hypersensitivity

1-2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after ATP cough challenges

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Inhaled ATP

Trial Overview The study tests how safe and repeatable it is for participants to inhale Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), which may help in measuring and treating increased cough sensitivity.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Adenosine 5'triphosphate Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

McMaster University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

936

Recruited

2,630,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9209634/

ATP, an attractive target for the treatment of refractory chronic ... Ongoing or completed clinical studies have confirmed the promising antitussive efficacy of P2X3 antagonists for refractory cough.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07085975

The Safety, Feasibility, and Repeatability of Inhaled ATP ... In this study, we will perform ATP cough challenges in healthy individuals and in patients with mild asthma and chronic cough to better understand the safety, ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7330343/

The role of ATP in cough hypersensitivity syndrome They found that aerosol inhalation of ATP could produce cough in both healthy subjects and patients with chronic cough, and that C2 and C5 values were ...

4. jtd.amegroups.org jtd.amegroups.org/article/view/39600/html

The role of ATP in cough hypersensitivity syndrome Here, we review the generation, release, and regulation of ATP during airway inflammation and its role in the etiology of cough hypersensitivity syndrome.

5. publications.ersnet.org publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/64/4/2400880

Bronchoconstriction with inhaled ATP in healthy volunteers Inhaled ATP is a potent bronchoconstrictor, capable of inducing significant bronchoconstriction even in some healthy volunteers.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11447284/

Bronchoconstriction with inhaled ATP in healthy volunteers The first studies of inhaled ATP suggested it induced bronchoconstriction in patients with asthma, COPD and healthy smokers, but reports on ...

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-1-chronic-cough-cc-7-2025-e7b8b

Inhaled ATP for Chronic Cough This trial is for healthy individuals and patients with mild asthma or chronic cough. It aims to understand the safety of inhaling ATP, a substance that can ...

8. thorax.bmj.com thorax.bmj.com/content/70/Suppl_3/A51.1

S89 Hypersensitivity to Adenosine Triphosphate in Chronic ... We present here the first results demonstrating that chronic cough patients have increased sensitivity to ATP compared to healthy volunteers.