News

The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently approved Daxas (roflumilast), developed by AstraZeneca, as a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The new indication could potentially benefit about 122,000 adults in the U.K. who are estimated to be eligible to receive Daxas, according…

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has granted $10 million to the McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University to investigate and identify genes associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung disorders in people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Results of…

The effects of vaporized cannabis on symptoms associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the target of a new clinical trial that stems from a partnership between medical cannabis products company Tilray and the Research Institute of the McGill University…

The lung therapy developer Pulmatrix has obtained global rights to RespiVert’s respiratory-disease treatments under a licensing arrangement. Under the deal, Pulmatrix gained access to the kinase inhibitors that RespiVert has developed for lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pumatrix also develops kinase inhibitors. RespiVert is a subsidiary of Janssen…

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) is investing $10 million to raise awareness for the prevention and early detection of two diseases greatly affecting the health of Texans — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic diabetic kidney disease (CKD) — through its Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grants…

Verona Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the treatment of respiratory diseases, recently announced the initiation of a clinical trial in the United States for its product RPL554. The drug is currently in development for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). Announcement of the clinical trial follows the…

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals has received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), clearing the Massachusetts company from having to conduct further clinical trials for approval of its SUN-101/eFlow (glycopyrrolate) therapy to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to a corporate press release, the CRL clears Sunovion…

Dutch healthcare conglomerate Royal Philips has purchased RespirTech, a leading manufacturer of airway clearance therapy vests for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other severe lung conditions. With this new acquisition, Philips expands its respiratory care portfolio, strengthening its presence in the hospital and home care markets —  especially…

A recent study, co-sponsored by Royal Philips, showed that using home noninvasive ventilation in addition to home oxygen therapy (HOT) could effectively delay hospital readmissions and increase survival in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after a life-threatening respiratory event or exacerbation. The study, “Effect of Home Noninvasive…

Using a ventilator to control the level of supplemental oxygen a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient receives halved patients’ trips to the hospital from disease flare-ups, according to a clinical trial. Britishers researchers conducted the study, which they dubbed the Home Oxygen Therapy-Home Mechanical Ventilation (HOT-HMV) trial (…