Development of New Classes and Reassessment of Widely Used Drugs for the Management of Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Where Do We Stand?
Vasiliki Petta, Georgios Hillas, Vasilis Issaris, Georgios Poupouzas, Andriana Papaioannou, Paraskevi KatsaounouAbstract:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Bronchodilators remain the cornerstone of treatment due to the markable therapeutic effect of these drugs. Long-Acting β2-Adrenoreceptor agonists (LABAs) and Long-Acting Muscarinic Acetylcholine receptor antagonists (LAMAs) relieve bronchospasm, reduce air trapping, improve dyspnea, and reduce exercise intolerance. Despite the gradual, remarkable improvement in inhalation devices and the extended duration of action of newer agents, the β2-adrenoreceptor class may exhibit a reduced bronchodilator effect over time. Moreover, COPD is a complex, chronic inflammatory airway disease, often associated with multiple comorbidities and safety concerns related to the long-term use of currently available bronchodilators, further underscoring the need for new therapeutic classes. Consequently, there is growing interest in developing novel agents to expand treatment options and improve outcomes in COPD.