COPD exacerbations: targeting IL-33 as a new therapy

Current therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) aim to control symptoms, improve lung function, reduce acute exacerbations, 1 Halpin DMG Criner GJ Papi A et al. Global initiative for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive lung disease. The 2020 GOLD science committee report on COVID-19 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021; 203: 24-36 Crossref PubMed Scopus (112) Google Scholar and decrease mortality. Despite improvements in disease management, available therapies with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators have modest effects on reducing acute exacerbations of COPD and disease progression and only produce benefits in some people. 2 Lipson DA Crim C Criner GJ et al. Reduction in all-cause mortality with fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020; 201: 1508-1516 Crossref PubMed Scopus (69) Google Scholar New and effective therapies for acute exacerbations are needed. Biological therapies that target specific pathways have been successful in several respiratory diseases and are now being assessed in COPD, albeit with little success so far. Safety and efficacy of itepekimab in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD: a genetic association study and randomised, double-blind, phase 2a trialThe primary endpoint in the overall population was not met, subgroup analysis showed that itepekimab reduced exacerbation rate and improved lung function in former smokers with COPD. Two phase 3 clinical studies are ongoing to confirm the efficacy and safety profile of itepekimab in former smokers with COPD. Full-Text PDF