An Australian research team has uncovered what could become the first new natural anti-inflammatory therapy in more than half a century, raising hopes for a significant reduction in deaths from sepsis, one of the world’s leading causes of mortality.
In a landmark study published in Endocrinology, scientists from Adelaide University and the Central Adelaide Local Health Network demonstrated that restoring levels of a naturally occurring protein known as corticosteroid binding globulin significantly improved survival in a preclinical model of septic shock. The therapy reduced relative mortality by more than 70 per cent, a result the researchers described as remarkable.
Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to infection, triggering widespread inflammation that can lead to organ failure. In its most severe form, septic shock, blood pressure drops dangerously and multiple organs may fail. The condition accounts for more than 20 per cent of global deaths and remains a major international health priority.
The protein at the centre of the discovery, corticosteroid binding globulin or CBG, is produced in the liver and transports the stress hormone cortisol through the bloodstream. After more than a decade of investigation, the Adelaide team found that CBG deficiency is closely linked to the severity of critical illness and is associated with a threefold increase in the risk of death among intensive care patients with septic shock at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
In their most recent preclinical study, restoring depleted CBG levels not only reduced mortality but also provided marked protection against sepsis progression, including significant reductions in low blood pressure and organ damage. The findings suggest that CBG may trigger an anti-inflammatory response beyond its established role in hormone transport. Researchers believe this previously unrecognised mechanism could position CBG as a groundbreaking therapeutic candidate.
Despite decades of high mortality rates, no new therapies for septic shock have been introduced into routine clinical practice in recent years, and existing treatments offer limited success. The researchers argue that a therapy based on a naturally occurring protein could offer life-saving benefits with minimal toxicity.
With CBG now in production for first-in-human clinical trials, the team is moving toward translating their laboratory findings into patient care. They are also exploring whether the therapy could benefit patients with severe burns and other conditions where CBG levels are critically depleted.
If clinical trials confirm the early results, the discovery could mark a turning point in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock, offering a new tool against a condition that has long resisted therapeutic innovation.