Mucus-Busting asthma trial fizzles out

NCT ID NCT03822637

Terminated Symptom relief Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This small study tested whether adding n-acetylcysteine (NAC) to albuterol could improve lung function and reduce mucus plugs in people with moderate-to-severe asthma. Only 4 participants were enrolled before the trial was terminated early. The crossover design gave each person two weeks of NAC plus albuterol and two weeks of placebo plus albuterol, but the tiny size means no firm conclusions can be drawn.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: n-acetylcysteine (NAC) plus albuterol
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to clear mucus plugs in the airways and improve breathing for people with moderate-to-severe asthma.
What could go wrong: The trial was terminated early and enrolled only 4 people, so results are very limited. It is unclear if NAC provides any real benefit over standard care.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

asthma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ASTHMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

UCSF Airway Clinical Research Center

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.