Spotlighting Innovations in Pulmonary Care at ATS 2025

A new wave of innovation in pulmonary medicine is drawing attention to ways to reshape patient care while reducing system inefficiencies.

These developments will be featured at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference, taking place May 16 to 21 in San Francisco, California. From novel treatments for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to real-world lung cancer diagnostics and sleep apnea therapies, the latest research being presented at ATS 2025 speaks to longstanding gaps in care that continue to impact patients and strain health systems.

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Late-breaking findings include the first-in-human clinical data for the BREATHE airway scaffold. | Image credit: Peakstock – stock.adobe.com

Focusing on Asthma and COPD

AstraZeneca is expected to present more than 75 abstracts at the meeting, including 8 late-breaking studies focused on asthma, COPD, and rare eosinophilic disorders.1 Notable among these is the phase 3b BATURA study evaluating whether albuterol/budesonide (Airsupra), a fixed-dose albuterol/budesonide rescue therapy, can reduce cumulative exposure to systemic corticosteroids in patients with mild asthma compared with albuterol alone.

The company also plans to highlight budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterolfumarate (Breztri), its triple inhaled therapy for COPD, through real-world and post hoc analyses. In the ETHOS and MITOS studies, researchers assessed the treatment’s effect on cardiopulmonary outcomes and its potential advantages in patients with overlapping asthma and COPD features.

AstraZeneca will also present findings from a study evaluating the lung deposition profile of budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterolfumarate in patients with COPD and concomitant asthma who have persistent airflow limitation. The study uses functional respiratory imaging, a technique that combines 3D models of human lungs with computational fluid dynamics to simulate how aerosol medications are distributed within the airways.

Addressing Diagnostic Gaps in Lung Cancer

New economic and clinical data will be presented on the Nodify Lung proteomic tests, which are designed to better triage patients with indeterminate pulmonary nodules, according to a Biodesix news release.2 One study covering over 350,000 US patients showed that two-thirds did not receive a clinical work-up after lung nodule detection, reinforcing prior findings.

Notably, 60% of biopsies targeted lung nodules that turned out to be benign, while 35% of malignant nodules only received a follow-up CT scan before being diagnosed, highlighting the need for improved triage strategies to help patients receive the appropriate care sooner.

Meanwhile, real-world results from a separate observational study conducted at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in New York will focus on how Nodify Lung testing influenced patient management in a lung cancer screening program. These findings were also recently presented at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 2025 Annual Meeting.

Novel Approaches in Sleep Medicine

Sleep-disordered breathing will also be in the spotlight at ATS 2025, with Apnimed sharing data from its ongoing phase 3 program evaluating combination aroxybutynin/atomoxetine (AD109), a once-nightly oral therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.3

Unlike continuous positive airway pressure machines, the AD109 pill targets the neuromuscular root causes of airway collapse to improve oxygenation, potentially offering a more adherence-friendly alternative for patients. Other presentations from Apnimed will explore digital health innovations and the underrecognized burden of obesity hypoventilation syndrome based on Medicare claims data.

Device-Based Innovation Targets Structural Lung Disease

Adding to the lineup of novel therapies is Apreo Health, which will present first-in-human clinical data for its BREATHE airway scaffold, a device designed to reduce lung hyperinflation in emphysema without removing tissue.4 Tested in 60 patients across Australia and Europe, the device could offer a minimally invasive option for those who are ineligible for lung volume reduction surgery or other interventions. The FDA granted the airway scaffold Breakthrough Device Designation in May 2024.

References

1. AstraZeneca to showcase latest research on comprehensive portfolio and pipeline aimed at transforming respiratory diseases at ATS 2025. AstraZeneca. News release. May 13, 2025. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2025/astrazeneca-to-showcase-latest-research-on-comprehensive-portfolio-and-pipeline-aimed-at-transforming-respiratory-diseases-at-ats-2025.html
2. Biodesix announces new clinical and economic data for its Nodify Lung® tests at ISPOR and ATS. Biodesix. News release. May 15, 2025. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://investors.biodesix.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biodesix-announces-new-clinical-and-economic-data-its-nodify
3. Apnimed announces multiple presentations at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference 2025 highlighting novel techniques and unmet medical needs in sleep medicine. Apnimed. News release. May 6, 2025. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://apnimed.com/article/apnimed-announces-multiple-presentations-at-the-american-thoracic-society-ats-international-conference-2025-highlighting-novel-techniques-and-unmet-medical-needs-in-sleep-medicine/
4. Apreo Health to present first-in-human data for novel airway scaffold in late-breaking abstract at ATS 2025. Business Wire. News release. May 13, 2025. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513460438/en/Apreo-Health-to-Present-First-in-Human-Data-for-Novel-Airway-Scaffold-in-Late-Breaking-Abstract-at-ATS-2025