News

Japan Approves Zephyr Valve for Severe Emphysema

Pulmonx has won the green light in Japan to market its Zephyr Endobronchial Valve, a bronchoscope-placed device designed to help people breathe easier who have severe emphysema, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With the OK from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare…

Spinoff Breathe Biologics to Lead TSOI’s Stem Cell Therapy Research

Therapeutic Solutions International (TSOI) has launched a pharmaceutical spin-off — Breathe Biologics — that will take the lead in developing and marketing therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including JadiCell, its investigational stem cell therapy. TSOI has licensed to Breathe Biologics the investigational new drug (IND) application for…

At-home Testing Kit for Alpha-1 Deficiency Wins FDA Clearance

AlphaID At Home, a screening kit to detect alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (alpha-1), has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The free, direct-to-consumer screening kit developed by Grifols will enable adults in the U.S. to determine their genetic risk of developing lung or liver disease linked to…

COPD Awareness Month Supporters Urged to ‘Lace Up for Lungs’

From exercising and promoting early diagnoses, to sporting orange and sharing resources on social media, supporters are marking COPD Awareness Month — observed each November — and working to call attention to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The chronic lung disorder affects 384 million people worldwide, including 16…

COPD-related Deaths Rising in Women, Declining in Men

Mortality rates associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were declining in men but rising among women in many countries as of 2019, according to a recent study. This shift is likely related to changes in smoking habits, with smoking generally declining in men but being more variable among…

Signify Health Offering At-home Spirometry Test to Diagnose COPD

Signify Health, a U.S. healthcare platform, has added spirometry testing for chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) to its in-home diagnostic and preventive services. The company began offering spirometry testing in select locations earlier this year, with at-home evaluations available to Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plan members. “In-home…

Ensifentrine Lowers Exacerbation Rate Across Variety of COPD Patients

Ensifentrine, an inhaled treatment being developed by Verona Pharma, lowered the rate of exacerbations, or episodes of sudden disease worsening, across all subgroups of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Phase 3 ENHANCE-2 trial. “We are very encouraged by the meaningful and consistent reductions…

AeroRx, HCmed Team Up on New Combo of Bronchodilators for COPD

AeroRx Therapeutics is teaming up with HCmed Innovations to develop a new therapeutic combination of different classes of bronchodilators — medications that help open up the airways, making breathing easier — for the treatment of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The new combo would be delivered using…