er ii Health Bulletiat Ai Medicine For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (NAPSA)—The more than 13 million American adults who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the most commonlung diseases in the U.S., and the people who care for them, may soon have more treatment options. New Medicines in Development That’s because America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are working on 54 new medicines to treat COPD, according to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers ofAmerica (PhRMA). These newtherapiesare in clinicaltrials or underreview by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patient use. The Condition COPDis a serious, progressive lower respiratory disease that encompasses two main condi- tions—chronic bronchitis and emphysema—characterized by obstructed airflow to the lungs that interferes with normal breathing. People with COPD maybe limited in their ability to work, exercise andeven perform routineactivities. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the number of patients with COPDis increasing. In addition to those who have been diagnosed with the disease, 12 million Americans likely have COPD without knowing it. The NIH says symptomscaninclude: *Constant coughing, sometimes called “smoker’s cough”; Shortness of breath while doing activities you used to be able to do; Feeling like you can’t breathe; *Not being able to take a deep breath; and Wheezing. Emerging scientific approaches to treating COPD offer new hope to improve and savelives. If you experience any of these, see your doctor. Early Detection Is Key “Early detection of COPD is imperative, as effective treatment and lifestyle changes can change the course and progression of this devastating disease,” said PhRMA President and CEO John J. Castellani. PhRMA’s mission is to advocate for public policies that encourage medical innovation and research into new medicines for patients by pharmaceutical and biotechnology research companies. America’s biopharmaceutical research sector is the global leader in medical innovation, with more than 300 new medicines approved by the FDA in recent decades. Researchers are currently studying more than 3,000 more compounds. Learn More For more information about the research, see www.phrma.org/ research/new-medicines-COPD.
