Q2 2025 Recap: 7 Pulmonology Updates to Know

The second quarter of 2025 brought a wave of promising advances in pulmonology, with new data highlighting the potential of biologics, small molecules, and novel delivery platforms to address critical unmet needs in chronic respiratory diseases. Results presented at major conferences such as the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference showcased targeted therapies poised to transform the treatment landscape for patients with COPD, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), bronchiectasis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Collectively, these findings reflect an accelerating push toward precision medicine approaches tailored to inflammatory and rare pulmonary conditions.

Biologics such as mepolizumab and dupilumab demonstrated compelling efficacy signals in eosinophilic and type 2 inflammatory Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), respectively, potentially expanding options for personalized COPD management. Meanwhile, investigational therapies like brensocatib for bronchiectasis, TPIP for PAH, and taladegib for IPF delivered positive phase 2 or 3 data that could reshape care paradigms for patients with limited existing treatment options. Cytisinicline’s success in supporting smoking cessation further underscored the quarter’s focus on comprehensive strategies to improve respiratory health. Together, these developments mark a pivotal moment for innovation in respiratory medicine.

Check out this June 2025 pulmonology month in review for a recap of HCPLive’s coverage of the top pulmonary news and research from the past few weeks:

Biologics Garnered More Positive Data in COPD

1. Add-On Mepolizumab Decreases Exacerbations in Eosinophilic COPD
In April, a study demonstrated that adding mepolizumab to standard therapy reduced exacerbation rates in patients with eosinophilic COPD. These findings support the potential role of mepolizumab as an effective add-on treatment for this patient population.​

2. Dupilumab Enhances Lung Function in COPD Patients with Type 2 Inflammation

In May, pooled data from the phase 3 BOREAS and NOTUS trials, presented at ATS 2025, demonstrated that dupilumab significantly improved lung function in patients with COPD characterized by type 2 inflammation. As a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 pathways, dupilumab offers a targeted approach for this COPD subgroup, marking a potential advancement in personalized treatment strategies.

3. Cytisinicline Significantly Helped People Who Smoke Remain Abstinent
In April, cytisinicline was found to aid smoking cessation efforts, helping individuals maintain abstinence from tobacco use. This agent may offer a new pharmacologic option for smoking cessation support.​

Investigational Pipelines Spotlight Rare Diseases

4. Brensocatib Improved Outcomes, Slowed Decline in People With Bronchiectasis
In April, Brensocatib showed efficacy in reducing pulmonary exacerbations and slowing disease progression in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. The positive results from the Phase 3 trial suggest brensocatib could become a novel therapeutic option for this underserved population.​

6. TPIP Boasts Significant Outcome Improvements for PAH in Phase 2b

In June, Insmed announced positive phase 2b results for treprostinil palmitil inhalation powder (TPIP), meeting its primary endpoint of significantly reducing pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Based on findings from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, TPIP treatment led to notable improvements in exercise capacity and biomarkers of heart strain, supporting its potential as an effective once-daily prostanoid therapy. Safety analysis showed TPIP was generally well tolerated despite higher rates of common prostanoid-related adverse events like cough and headache. Insmed plans to initiate phase 3 trials for TPIP in PAH and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease starting later this year and into early 2026.

7. Taladegib (ENV-101) Shows Promise in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

In May, Phase 2a data presented at ATS 2025 revealed that taladegib (ENV-101) may be the first therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to demonstrate a reduction in pulmonary vessel volume. This finding provides new insights into the treatment of IPF, indicating that taladegib could offer a novel mechanism of action targeting vascular remodeling in the disease.