Pooled data from the phase 3 BOREAS and NOTUS trials, presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference, demonstrate that dupilumab significantly improves lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by type 2 inflammation. As a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 pathways, dupilumab offers a targeted approach for this COPD subgroup, marking a potential advancement in personalized treatment strategies.
Breakthrough in COPD Subtype Treatment
The findings represent a significant development in COPD management, particularly for patients with type 2 inflammation—a subset that has historically been challenging to treat with conventional therapies. By targeting the interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 pathways, dupilumab addresses the underlying inflammatory mechanisms that drive disease progression in this specific patient population.
The phase 3 trial data suggest that dupilumab could fill a critical gap in COPD treatment, offering clinicians a precision medicine approach for patients who may not respond optimally to standard bronchodilator therapy alone.
Sustained Benefits in Severe Asthma
Beyond COPD, real-world data presented at ATS 2025 indicate that dupilumab therapy leads to sustained improvements in lung function, asthma control, quality of life, and a reduction in exacerbations over a 2-year period in patients with severe asthma. Notably, over half of the treated patients achieved remission within 1 to 2 years, highlighting dupilumab's potential for long-term disease management.
These findings reinforce dupilumab's established role in severe asthma treatment while providing evidence for its durability and effectiveness in achieving disease remission—a significant milestone for patients with previously uncontrolled symptoms.
Rapid-Acting Asthma Alternative
Additional data from ATS 2025 show that rademikibart leads to rapid improvements in lung function within 24 hours of the first dose in patients with asthma. These improvements were sustained over time, highlighting rademikibart's potential as a fast-acting therapeutic option for individuals with type 2 inflammation-associated asthma.
Implications for Respiratory Medicine
The convergence of these findings underscores the growing importance of targeting type 2 inflammatory pathways in respiratory diseases. The success of dupilumab across both COPD and asthma populations suggests that precision medicine approaches based on inflammatory phenotyping could revolutionize treatment strategies for chronic respiratory conditions.
For COPD patients with type 2 inflammation, dupilumab represents a potential paradigm shift from the traditional bronchodilator-focused approach to a more targeted anti-inflammatory strategy. This development could be particularly significant given the limited therapeutic options available for COPD patients who continue to experience symptoms despite optimal bronchodilator therapy.
