Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap

The term asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap applies where there are features of asthma and COPD. Agents targeting eosinophilic inflammation have transformed asthma management and indicate promise across airways disease, whereas agents targeting neutrophilic inflammation have demonstrated limited efficacy. Successful treatment of airway dysbiosis, mucous hypersecretion, or airway remodeling may occur with better understanding of the impact of current agents on specific clinical end points or through novel approaches. Biomarkers indicating specific disease mechanisms are key to select appropriate populations for clinical trials and identify subgroups likely to benefit from targeted treatments.