News

FDA approves Dupixent for adults with poorly controlled COPD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Dupixent (dupilumab) as an add-on maintenance treatment for adults with poorly controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and high counts of immune cells called eosinophils. Elevated eosinophils are a marker of type 2 inflammation, which is thought to contribute…

Voice changes may enable early detection of COPD exacerbations

The voice of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) becomes more pitched and sounds breathy or hoarse at the early stages of disease exacerbations, which are episodes when symptoms suddenly worsen, according to a pilot study where 28 patients were asked to record their voices every day for…

Mepolizumab reduces exacerbations in COPD with type 2 inflammation

Adding GSK’s mepolizumab to standard inhaled treatment reduces the frequency of moderate to severe exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with type 2 inflammation, which contributes to lung inflammation. That’s according to top-line data from a Phase 3 clinical trial called MATINEE (NCT04133909) announced by GSK…

Tezepelumab wins breakthrough designation for eosinophilic COPD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough designation to tezepelumab, an approved therapy for severe asthma, as an add-on maintenance treatment for moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) marked by an eosinophilic profile. An eosinophilic profile refers to high blood levels of eosinophils,…

Certain air pollution gases elevate COPD risk for adults: US study

Exposure to certain air pollution gases — pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially benzene and toluene — significantly increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among adults in the U.S., according to a new study. Indeed, one statistical model found COPD risk was three times higher…

Higher vitamin E intake linked to lower COPD risk: US data

People who get more vitamin E from their diet may be less likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an analysis suggests. Findings indicate that vitamin E supplementation may help in preventing COPD, but more research is needed to confirm this, researchers note. The study “…