Emphysema News and Research RSS Feed - Emphysema News and Research

Emphysema is a debilitating disease that afflicts more than three million Americans. The disease is caused primarily by smoking and leads to a progressive, irreversible breakdown of lung tissue. This breakdown reduces the amount of lung tissue available for gas exchange and also impairs the lung's ability to inflate and deflate normally. As the disease advances, the most damaged areas of the lung over inflate within the chest cavity, trapping air and preventing the healthier lung areas from functioning normally. Eventually breathing becomes more difficult, leaving patients constantly feeling out-of-breath.
Grifols signs worldwide licensing agreement for Aradigm's Pulmaquin

Grifols signs worldwide licensing agreement for Aradigm's Pulmaquin

Grifols, S.A. and Aradigm Corporation today announced the signing of an exclusive, worldwide license for Aradigm's proprietary formulations of inhaled ciprofloxacin (Pulmaquin and Lipoquin) for the treatment of severe respiratory diseases, including non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. [More]
Lung Volume Reduction Coil may play key role in treatment of emphysema, study finds

Lung Volume Reduction Coil may play key role in treatment of emphysema, study finds

A small, easily implantable device called the Lung Volume Reduction Coil may play a key role in the treatment of two types of emphysema, according to a study conducted in Europe. Results of the study indicate the beneficial effects of the device persist more than a year after initial treatment. [More]
Boehringer Ingelheim to highlight respiratory research work at ATS 2013

Boehringer Ingelheim to highlight respiratory research work at ATS 2013

Boehringer Ingelheim will contribute to advancing the scientific discussion in respiratory disease at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in Philadelphia, PA, May 17 – 22. [More]
Boehringer Ingelheim updates HCPs, patients on COMBIVENT RESPIMAT Inhalation Spray

Boehringer Ingelheim updates HCPs, patients on COMBIVENT RESPIMAT Inhalation Spray

As part of the company's commitment to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in respiratory health, is updating healthcare professionals and patients that the transition to COMBIVENT RESPIMAT (ipratropium bromide and albuterol) Inhalation Spray for the maintenance treatment of COPD is nearly complete. [More]

Breo Ellipta gets FDA approval for treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate and vilanterol inhalation powder) for the long-term, once-daily, maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. [More]
FDA's PADAC supports approval of BREO ELLIPTA as once-daily inhaled treatment for COPD

FDA's PADAC supports approval of BREO ELLIPTA as once-daily inhaled treatment for COPD

GlaxoSmithKline plc and Theravance, Inc. today announced that the Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee to the US Food and Drug Administration voted that the efficacy and safety data provide substantial evidence to support approval of BREO ELLIPTA as a once-daily inhaled treatment for the long-term, maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9 for, 4 against) and also for the reduction of COPD exacerbations in patients with a history of exacerbations (9 for, 4 against). [More]
ACOEM provides tools, resources to help employers identify and respond to impact of COPD

ACOEM provides tools, resources to help employers identify and respond to impact of COPD

Awareness campaign for the workplace provides tools and information on preventing and managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - the third leading cause of death in the U.S. [More]
IDIBELL signs agreement with Histocell to use patent for acute pulmonary diseases with stem cells

IDIBELL signs agreement with Histocell to use patent for acute pulmonary diseases with stem cells

The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute has signed a licensing agreement with the Spanish biotech company Histocell to make use of a patent for the treatment of acute pulmonary diseases with mesenchymal stem cells. [More]
SLU researcher studies effect of bitter melon extract on treating cancer

SLU researcher studies effect of bitter melon extract on treating cancer

A Saint Louis University researcher has received a $39,425 grant from the Lottie Caroline Hardy Charitable Trust to continue her research on treating cancer with a natural substance -- the extract taken from a vegetable that is part of her diet. [More]
Positive results from Affinium Pharmaceuticals' Phase 2a clinical trial of AFN-1252 in ABSSSI

Positive results from Affinium Pharmaceuticals' Phase 2a clinical trial of AFN-1252 in ABSSSI

Affinium Pharmaceuticals announced today that its Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating oral AFN-1252 in acute bacterial skin & skin structure infections demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety data, marking a significant proof-of-concept milestone for Affinium's first-in-class, novel antibiotic targeted against bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis inhibition (FabI inhibitors). [More]
Research findings could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies

Research findings could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have made major discoveries that could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies. In a mouse study, the team located key molecules that switch on stress pathways in preterm lung disorders, and also found that when parts of these pathways were blocked with a pain drug, lung damage was prevented or reversed. [More]
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inflammatory subtypes: an interview with Dr Vanessa McDonald, University of Newcastle, Australia

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inflammatory subtypes: an interview with Dr Vanessa McDonald, University of Newcastle, Australia

COPD is defined as a preventable and treatable disease associated with significant extrapulmonary consequences that may contribute to severity. The pulmonary component of COPD is characterised by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles (GOLD Strategy Document). Airflow obstruction in COPD is not highly variable and largely irreversible. [More]

PneumRx initiates RePneu LVRC pivotal study in severe emphysema

PneumRx, Inc., a leader in interventional pulmonology, announced the first U.S. patients treated with PneumRx's Lung Volume Reduction Coils (LVRCs) for severe emphysema. [More]

UAB becomes first in America to test experimental therapy for emphysema

A patient at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) became the first person in America to undergo an investigational therapy for emphysema that uses a foam sealant sprayed into the lungs. [More]

Optimal lung cancer screening nodule size questioned

Researchers challenge the definition of a positive result in first-round lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography in the Annals of Internal Medicine. [More]

Researchers identify new molecular pathway involved in alveoli growth

In a study of mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a new molecular pathway involved in the growth of tiny air sacs called alveoli that are crucial for breathing. The scientists say their experiments may lead to the first successful treatments to regrow the air sacs in people who suffer from diseases such as emphysema in which the air sacs have been destroyed by years of smoking. [More]

Marijuana may double stroke risk in young adults

Marijuana, the most widely used illicit drug, may double stroke risk in young adults, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2013. [More]
Older adults with COPD more frequently use benzodiazepines

Older adults with COPD more frequently use benzodiazepines

A popular class of drugs commonly used to treat sleep and mood symptoms continues to be frequently prescribed despite being known to have potentially life-threatening side effects. [More]

COPD underdiagnosed in Chinese lung cancer patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is underdiagnosed and undertreated among lung cancer patients in China, study results show. [More]

Double transplants can be successful with donor lungs from heavy smokers

Lungs from carefully selected donors with a heavy smoking history can be used with good results in adult, double-lung transplants, according to a study released today at the 49th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. [More]