Meredith McCormack, MD, MHS

Obese individuals with asthma continue to have limited treatment options and are often resistant to current first-line asthma therapies. Previous research suggests that metformin, the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, may be beneficial among patients with asthma and elevated body mass index. To define the role of metformin in treating asthma, a definitive, multicenter trial is needed. We will conduct a cross-sectional study of individuals with overweight/obesity and asthma who do not have a pre-existing indication for metformin, in order to define recruitment strategies. This is a necessary step to plan a definitive trial. The opportunity to repurpose an existing drug to treat individuals with asthma is novel and has potential to create a paradigm shift in our approach to obese individuals with asthma.