A global first-in-class drug for COPD lands in Lecheng

On Dec 1, Ensifentrine—the global first-in-class maintenance therapy drug for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)—was introduced to Ruijin-Hainan Hospital in Hainan's Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone under the zone's special policy of allowing new drugs and medical equipment to be tested out prior to their being approved for general usage throughout China. With this first prescription, new treatment options for domestic patients with COPD are now available.

COPD is a common, preventable and treatable chronic airway disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation and the corresponding symptoms caused by a lack of oxygen. With one out of every eight people over 40 having some degree of COPD, China currently has nearly one hundred million patients who may benefit from this treatment.

In June 2024, Ensifentrine was listed in the United States as a global first-in-class inspiratory inhibitor of PDE3 & PDE4. Delivered to the lungs through a common atomizer, this dual-inhibition mechanism can achieve both bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory activity with a single easy-to-use compound that doesn't require complex equipment or a high level of coordination.