Breathing new life into a chronic disease

David Currow. Photo by Karen Mork.

For the 70,000 Australians who suffer from severe chronic breathlessness, the introduction of Kapanol® is life-changing. 

As the world’s first approved treatment for chronic breathlessness, Kapanol® works by supplementing the body’s own morphine-like chemicals to alleviate the symptoms of breathlessness. 

Kapanol® is based on research from the mid-20th century, when it was discovered that morphine could cause respiratory depression. 

Having researched the treatment for over 20 years, David Currow, Professor of Palliative Medicine at Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (ImPACCT), says that two out of three patients are already showing a significant improvement in symptomatic relief. 

“Chronic breathlessness is a condition that will affect most Australians at some point in their lives,” he says, “making chronic breathlessness an area that requires ongoing research.”