Chronic cough and cough hypersensitivity: from mechanistic insights to novel antitussives

Chronic cough has a global prevalence of 5–10% in the general adult population (≥18 years); 1 Chung KF McGarvey L Song WJ et al. Cough hypersensitivity and chronic cough. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2022; 8: 45 Crossref PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar however, few effective treatment options are available for patients. Irrespective of cause, many adult patients with chronic cough present with cough hypersensitivity, which is a syndrome of troublesome coughing triggered by low levels of thermal, mechanical, or chemical exposure. Recent scientific and clinical advances—encompassing the burden of chronic cough, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, approaches to measuring cough and cough hypersensitivity, current management approaches, and the development of novel antitussive strategies (panel)—were presented at the Twelfth London International Cough Symposium (12th LICS) held at Imperial College London (London, UK) from July 13 to 14, 2022. PanelKey areas of progress in chronic cough •Effect of cough in the population and at the individual level •Development and validation of measures of cough and cough hypersensitivity •Continuous recordings of cough frequency on a portable app •Mechanisms and treatment of acute infective cough •Production of tussive lipids from Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli •Cough hypersensitivity: peripheral and central mechanisms •Cough hypersensitivity: neuroinflammatory mechanisms •Cough hypersensitivity: novel targets •Trials of new antitussives: P2X3 receptor antagonists (gefapixant, sivopixant, BLU-5937), sodium channel blocker NTX-1175, opioid nalbuphine •Management of cough associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease •Management of chronic cough in children and adults •Effect of cough in the population and at the individual level •Development and validation of measures of cough and cough hypersensitivity •Continuous recordings of cough frequency on a portable app •Mechanisms and treatment of acute infective cough •Production of tussive lipids from Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli •Cough hypersensitivity: peripheral and central mechanisms •Cough hypersensitivity: neuroinflammatory mechanisms •Cough hypersensitivity: novel targets •Trials of new antitussives: P2X3 receptor antagonists (gefapixant, sivopixant, BLU-5937), sodium channel blocker NTX-1175, opioid nalbuphine •Management of cough associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease •Management of chronic cough in children and adults