In a small clinical trial, giving COPD patients 1.6 mg of thymosin‑alpha‑1 by injection ten times over a short period cut the number and length of flare‑ups and raised key immune cells (CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio). The effect seems tied to a boost in cellular immunity, but the study was limited to sick patients and used injections, not an everyday supplement.

To investigate the prophylactic effect of thymosin alpha 1 and its mechanism on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eighty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were divided into two groups. In the treatment group, 42 patients received thymosin alpha 1 1.6 mg hypodermic injection, quague die alterna, for 10 times. All patients were followed for 6 months, and were assessed the number and days of patients with acute exacerbation at 3 and 6 months. In two groups, before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment, the pulmonary function tests were measured, and the blood samples were collected for the measurement of the blood IgA, IgG, IgM, CD3, CD4 and CD8 levels. In the treatment group, the number and days of patients with acute exacerbation were significantly lower in comparison with those of the control group. After treatment of thymosin alpha 1, blood CD4 and CD4/CD8 levels were significantly increased. Thymosin alpha 1 has a good protection for the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by incresing body cellular immune activity.