Leading experts and scholars in the respiratory field attend the Respiratory Immunology International Summit in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
As chronic respiratory diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), have become global public health challenges, ways on how to combat them need to be explored to better improve people's health thus boosting the Healthy China Initiative, a medical expert has said in Beijing.
Speaking at an international forum, Professor Chen Rongchang from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University said advances in respiratory immunology have deepened people's understanding of chronic airway diseases and propelled breakthroughs in precision therapy.
Professor Chen Rongchang from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University delivers the opening remarks at the Respiratory Immunology International Summit. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Chen was speaking at the Respiratory Immunology International Summit, organized by the Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment Promotion Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and supported by Sanofi China, to mark the 23rd World COPD Day and the release of the 2025 GOLD Report.
China is advancing the Healthy China Initiative because people's health is a key indicator of a prosperous nation and a strong country.
Professor Guo Yanfei from Beijing Hospital emphasized that adopting a "treatable traits" strategy could be a new direction for precision exploration.
While highlighting the global burden of COPD, Professor Wen Fuqiang from West China Hospital of Sichuan University identified three major challenges in China's COPD management — adherence to long-term medication, patient's insufficient inspiratory flow and hand-mouth coordination and limitations of existing medications.
He called for the development of innovative treatment in the fight against COPD.
As a prestigious academic event, the forum brought together leading experts in the respiratory field from around the world, engaged hundreds of respiratory physicians on-site and 14,000 scholars online. The theme for this year's World COPD Day is "Know Your Lung Function".
The event marked a significant step forward in advancing academic exchange and clinical practice in respiratory health, representing a new phase for respiratory immunotherapy in China.
Professor Klaus F. Rabe from the LungClinic Grosshansdorf, University of Kiel, delivers a keynote speech at the Respiratory Immunology International Summit. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
As COPD is inherently a heterogeneous pulmonary condition persisting throughout the disease progression, Professor Klaus F. Rabe from the LungClinic Grosshansdorf, University of Kiel in Germany, stressed that 20 percent to 40 percent of COPD patients are primarily driven by type 2 inflammation pathways, and targeted therapies hold promise for meeting individual treatment needs.
Professor Wisia Wedzicha from Imperial College London stressed that clinical identification of inflammatory endotypes, particularly type 2 inflammation, is one of the prerequisites for precision COPD treatment.
Based on the results of inflammatory pathway studies, Professor Chen Yan from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University underscored the vital role of biologics that target type 2 inflammation in managing chronic airway diseases, adding that since 2010, the exploration of biologics that target type 2 inflammation has been ongoing.
Professor Surya P. Bhatt from the University of Alabama in Birmingham delivers a keynote speech at the Respiratory Immunology International Summit. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Professor Surya P. Bhatt from the University of Alabama at Birmingham introduced biologics targeting key drivers in type 2 inflammation pathways and shared efficacy study results, expressing high expectations for biologics currently under investigation.
During the panel discussions, experts engaged in in-depth discussions on diagnostic and treatment strategies for COPD.
Professor Sun Dejun from Inner Mongolia People's Hospital delivers the closing summary at the Respiratory Immunology International Summit. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Professor Sun Dejun from Inner Mongolia People's Hospital remarked in his closing summary that the summit brought together top experts from around the world to deeply discuss the latest advancements in respiratory diseases, particularly targeting therapies. The insights gained offer valuable guidance for clinical practice, with the hope of benefiting more patients.
