Even as beta-agonists (β-agonists) are the only drug compounds that help control asthma and COPD by relaxing airway smooth muscle cells, a new research reveals that the effectiveness of existing β-agonists appear waning over time, leaving patients constantly struggling with the disease. 

“For a significant proportion of asthmatics, the effectiveness of existing β-agonists seems insufficient to open tightly constricted airways and the clinical benefits realized appear to wane over time,” wrote a news release on a new research initiated by a team of scientists at the University of South Florida Health. 

The researchers pointed out that the existing Beta agonists are insufficient to open constricted pathways due to drug desensitization wherein the body becomes less sensitive and the effects of the medication wanes over time.  However, research found that a particular agonist C1-S — the first β-agonist ever known to relax airway smooth muscle and treat asthma without any detectable tachyphylaxis, could represent a significant breakthrough in asthma therapy.