Composition and method for the prevention, treatment and/or alleviation of an inflammatory disease

A method for enhancing steroid efficacy in a steroid refractory patient afflicted with an airway inflammatory condition and currently on steroid anti-inflammatory treatment but not responding or responding poorly or inadequately to the steroid anti-inflammatory treatment, or a steroid dependent patient afflicted with an airway inflammatory condition and currently on and responding adequately to steroid anti-inflammatory treatment, with the inability to be weaned off systemically or topically administered steroid treatment without increasing severity of the airway inflammatory condition, comprising:

• administering to the patient afflicted with an airway inflammatory condition an oligonucleotide which alone does not provide effective treatment for the airway inflammatory condition in a patient that is not steroid refractory, the oligonucleotide having the sequence 5′-X mCG-Yn-3′ , wherein X is A, T, C or G, Y is A, T, C or G, m=1-30, n=1-30, and the total length of the oligonucleotide is 8-40 nucleotides, wherein at least one CG dinucleotide is unmethylated, and wherein the oligonucleotide is administered in an amount effective to improve sensitivity of the patient to the steroid anti-inflammatory treatment and thereby induce a clinical response to the steroid anti-inflammatory treatment.