Author Archives: Marta Figueiredo PhD

Treatment with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) results in a strong, but temporary, reduction in pro-inflammatory molecules involved in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to data from a Phase 1 clinical trial involving nine COPD patients. Notably, molecules directly produced by MSCs were identified as potential drivers of these…

The Zephyr Endobronchial Valve leads to sustained and significant improvements in lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in people with homogeneous emphysema, a severe form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to one-year data from the IMPACT clinical study. “This is very important data because…

Hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) dropped by half after the implementation of public health measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections, according to a U.S. study. This reduction in COPD hospital admissions was 36% greater than “the declines seen in other serious medical conditions, including…

Treatment with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) effectively lessened hard-to-treat non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung infection, and its associated weight loss, in a new mouse model susceptible to these infections, an early study reported. “The potential to use human mesenchymal stem cells to treat difficult lung infections is promising,” Anthony Atala,…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the start of an international pivotal trial to test the RheOx System, Gala Therapeutics’ medical device, in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have moderate to severe chronic bronchitis. “Chronic bronchitis is a debilitating disease which results…

Noninvasive ventilation at home, known as NIVH, is associated with a significantly lower risk of death, hospitalization, and emergency room (ER) visits among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with chronic respiratory failure, according to a study based on Medicare data. Notably, the NIVH-associated reduced risk of hospitalization was…

Enrollment in a clinical trial evaluating the mechanism of action of RejuvenAir Metered Cryospray, CSA Medical’s investigational approach for the treatment of chronic bronchitis, has already passed the halfway point, the company announced. However, adults ages 40-79 with chronic bronchitis are still being recruited at the University…

Cancer therapies blocking specific protein receptors called ErbB reduced inflammation in animal models of inflammatory diseases — including those affecting the lung — by destroying neutrophils, a type of immune cell, a preclinical study found. According to the researchers, these findings suggest that treatments blocking the activity…

Bayer will invest more than $30 million over the next five years to fund collaborative research projects focused on finding new treatments for chronic lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The projects will be developed in a new lab launched in collaboration with the founding members of…

A new class of kinase inhibitors shows promising anti-inflammatory effects in airway cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a collaborative research study. The study, “Superior anti-inflammatory effects of narrow-spectrum kinase inhibitors in airway smooth muscle cells from subjects with chronic obstructive…