Treatment pipeline for COPD fails to address many unmet needs

The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) treatment pipeline lacks innovation despite an influx of new therapies, says GBI Research.

In addition to the need for disease-modifying drugs, much of the unmet need associated with COPD has been linked to poor adherence to medication.

Senior Analyst Yasser Mushtaq: "Tedious drug delivery processes and the need for frequent daily doses ultimately lead to poor compliance and management of COPD symptoms. As a consequence, drug development programs are focusing on developing long-acting medication.

"There is also a need for alternative anti-inflammatory agents. Traditionally reliant on Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS), analysis of the COPD product development pipeline has confirmed greater interest in novel anti-inflammatory agents."

The analyst adds that beyond ICS therapy, the current market offers very limited anti-inflammatory treatment, which is a notable unmet need in COPD.

GBI Research's report also states that first-in-class product development in COPD treatment constitutes only 16.5% of the pipeline, which is relatively small compared to other respiratory indications. For example, asthma therapeutics exhibit greater innovation, with first-in-class products making up 23% of the pipeline.

Mushtaq continues: "There are suggestions that such innovation is filtering through into the COPD therapeutics pipeline, as asthma and COPD share mechanisms of pathophysiology, making it likely that products will be applicable to both diseases.

"In this way, innovations in the asthma treatment pipeline will significantly aid that of COPD. However, there is no clear indication that disease-modifying drugs will be released onto the COPD market any time soon, making it an attractive proposition for major pharma players."