New asthma therapy at Hochgebirgsklinik Davos

01. November 2016

The Hochgebirgsklinik Davos, as a partner of the Allergy Campos Davos, treats allergic diseases as a priority. Davos offers a healthy climate and the air is low in allergens and pollutants.

Asthma is a complex, highly heterogeneous disease with various phenotypes of respiratory inflammation. Since June 2016 injections of an interleukin-5 antibody instead of cortisone have been given in Switzerland to patients with very severe eosinophilic asthma. The concept of anti-IL-5 treatment has proved clinically beneficial in asthma with severe eosinophilic airway inflammation.

The treatment received its licence in Switzerland in June 2016 and, in special cases of severe bronchial asthma, can markedly improve the symptoms and reduce the exacerbation rate (asthma attacks). On 11 August 2016 a patient with severe eosinophilic asthma was the first to be injected with an interleukin-5 antibody (mepolizumab) at the Hochgebirgsklinik Davos. IL-5 is a cytokine which plays an important role in the development, activation, differentiation and survival of eosinophils.

After the decision to treat and application by a lung specialist, the treatment costs for mepolizumab (Nucala) are met by the cost bearers for patients with a specific subgroup of difficult-to-treat bronchial asthma (“eosinophilic asthma”).

Prof. Hans-Werner Duchna would be very happy to provide you with detailed information about this treatment. On request, the medical service of HGK will support you in the application process or the formalities of obtaining confirmation of insurance coverage.

Prof Dr. med. H.W. Duchna, Ärztlicher Direktor, Chefarzt Pneumologie/Allergologie
Tel. +41 81 417 33 13
hans-werner.duchna@hgk.ch
www.hochgebirgsklinik.ch

20th CK-CARE Team Meeting 2025

27. February 2025

The 20th CK-CARE Team Meeting took place on 24 and 25 February 2025 under the motto ‘Embracing the concept of data analysis to further personalised patient care’. The aim of the meeting was to develop innovative ideas and prepare a draft publication for the CK-CARE Scientific Board based on the data from the CK-CARE registry and biobank. The event began with an informative presentation of the data from the CK-CARE repository and the biobank, which provided the framework for intensive group work. The participants were divided into four teams: Team 1, 2 and 3 chose the topic according to their personal interest based on the available data from the CKC repository and the biobank, while team 4 focused on science communication for the NIA app. The day was rounded off with a guided tour of the historic Fuggerei in Augsburg followed by a tapas dinner at the Tafeldecker restaurant, which provided space for lively discussions. On Tuesday, each group presented their idea in a 3-minute ‘Scientific Paper Pitch’ to the critical members of the ‘CK-CARE Scientific Board-lion’s den’.

(Copyright Image: Samuel Tschaffon, UK Augsburg)

Global Allergy Forum 2022

19. September 2024

The 4th Davos Declaration: A Milestone for Atopic Dermatitis Patient Care

During the last Global Allergy Forum (GAF) key opinion leaders from science, medicine and industry met in Davos to discuss the current state of the art of patient care in atopic dermatitis (AD) and proposed new strategies for its improvement. The thinktank addressed the high prevalence of AD and strategized methods to advance research, diagnostics, management and prevention. The findings are now published as «Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Atopic Dermatitis: Challenges and Future Opportunities: the 4th Davos Declaration».

Annual Report CK-CARE 2023

30. May 2024

CK-CARE’s work has global resonance and, thanks to this strong position, significant projects in clinical allergy research were again launched or catalysed in the reporting year. CK-CARE’s working methods were sharpened in terms of medical translation and a strengthening of research capacities on the medical campus in Davos was defined in order to increase CK-CARE’s performance.

Annual Report 2023

30. May 2024

CK-CARE’s work now has global resonance and, thanks to this strong position, significant projects in clinical allergy research were again launched or catalysed in the reporting year. CK-CARE’s working methods were sharpened in terms of medical translation and a strengthening of research capacities on the medical campus in Davos was defined in order to increase CK-CARE’s performance.

Kühne-Foundation Annual Report 2023

6. May 2024

“Entrepreneurial success should go hand in hand with the promotion of the common good. The Kühne Foundation fulfills this task. With a variety of programs and projects, the founder and the Kühne Foundation also assume their socio-political responsibility.”

The activities were significantly expanded, particularly in the area of logistics. In addition, the new focus area of climate action was established, and the first projects were launched.

Prof. Dr. h.c. Klaus-Michael Kühne

Annual Report 2023

How flexible are neutrophils to opposing signaling?

22. February 2024

Paola Martinez Murillo a postdoctoral researcher in Pierre-Yves Mantel’s group from CK-CARE obtained a Spark grant from the SNSF to investigate the effect of opposite signals on neutrophil biology in atopic dermatitis.

Spark is a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) funding scheme aiming to support projects that show unconventional thinking and introduce a unique approach. The Spark is highly competitive and supports projects based on promising ideas of high originality. CK-CARE was recognized as an eligible institution in June 2023 by the SNSF, opening new funding opportunities for the CK-CARE researchers.

This project aims to understand how two opposing signals: eczema dysregulated immune environment (Th2 response) and bacterial colonization (Th1 response) impact neutrophils function.

Neutrophils are tiny but powerful immune cells in our blood that fight off bacteria and viruses. They live for only 2-3 days and can quickly respond to infections. Neutrophils can adapt to different situations thanks to their genetic instructions (RNA). Our body’s reversible changes in reading DNA, called epigenomic modifications, are crucial for a functional immune response.

Eczema, a chronic skin condition, happens when various factors like genetics, skin damage, and immune reactions go haywire. People with eczema have neutrophils that do not work as well in fighting bacteria, making them more prone to infections.

This study addresses a knowledge gap in neutrophil adaptation to an allergic milieu, by evaluating neutrophil adaptation to anti-bacterial response in a type 2 immune response dominated context such as atopic dermatitis using transcriptional and epigenomic profiling along with comprehensive analysis of neutrophil functionality (netosis, phagocytosis, ROS-production, bactericidal activity, chemotaxis). Building upon in-vitro stimulation insights, then we will aim for a comprehensive analysis of neutrophil functionality in atopic dermatitis patients treated or not with Dupilumab.