Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - A new experimental drug has proven to be effective in preventing chronic lung disease in mice who were exposed to tobacco smoke.

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland carried out the study on a group of mice, exposing them to tobacco smoke for a period of six months.

They had half of the mice in the study try the experimental drug CDDO-Im during the study.

The whole idea behind exposing them to tobacco smoke was to start the development of emphysema.

The mice in the study on this experimental drug not only were able to fight off the development of chronic lung disease, but also saw their heart function improve.

The hope is the drug will be able to be tested on humans soon to help prevent chronic asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and others.

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.