Personalised medicine: a new frontier of pharmacological management for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, caused by damage to the airways or other parts of the lung, which blocks airflow and eventually makes it difficult for the patient to breathe. While COPD is a terminal condition, opportunities remain to improve affected individuals' symptoms and, thereby, their quality of life. Inhaled therapies are a mainstay of pharmacological treatment for COPD, but their efficacy is limited under certain conditions and in specific populations. Francesca Ramadan explores the research investigating the ways COPD and various drug therapies can impact cell processes and gene expression, providing the means through which COPD patients can receive more effective treatment.