Personalized COPD Care: The Future of Precision-Based Therapies

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory illness characterized by long-standing respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. It is a major contributor to respiratory disease-related deaths and currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of mortality in the United States. Approved pharmacological therapies for the stable disease primarily consist of inhaled short and long-acting bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, azithromycin, and roflumilast. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the management of COPD through the identification of different COPD phenotypes and endotypes, which allows for a more personalized treatment approach. While earlier studies investigating targeted therapies were less promising, recent data on drugs targeting type 2 inflammatory pathways have shown promising results in carefully selected patients. In this article, we will review the available data on targeted therapies as well as the ongoing clinical studies of novel targeted therapies for COPD. Understanding and implementing these advancements hold promise for improving outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with COPD.