CHEST 2026 Annual Meeting highlights respiratory research

The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) 2026 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, presented several key findings regarding chronic respiratory diseases.

In COPD research, an integrated analysis of the OBERON, TITANIA, and PROSPERO trials showed that tozorakimab, an investigational anti-IL-33 monoclonal antibody, was associated with fewer moderate-to-severe exacerbations and fewer hospital visits compared to placebo over 104 weeks. Additionally, pooled phase 3 data indicated that mepolizumab reduced mean yearly systemic corticosteroid exposure in patients with eosinophilic COPD receiving inhaled triple therapy.

Asthma studies revealed that chronic, empiric use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) without an ulcer-related indication was linked to a 60% increase in the odds of asthma exacerbations and a nearly four-fold increase in the odds of rescue corticosteroid use.

Other notable research included a phase 2a trial of inhaled frespaciguat for pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD, which did not significantly improve the 6-minute walk distance. In bronchiectasis, a post hoc analysis linked purulent patient-reported sputum to higher neutrophil elastase activity and increased disease activity.