Itepekimab for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Itepekimab is in clinical development for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that progressively cause breathing difficulties. It mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke or have smoked. The main symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath, a persistent chesty cough with phlegm, frequent chest infections, and persistent wheezing. Despite current therapies, many patients with COPD still experience frequent symptoms and exacerbations (periods when symptoms get suddenly worse), with associated morbidity. There is therefore a need to develop new treatment options to further reduce the risk of exacerbations and symptoms.