Advancing COPD Drug Development Through Biomarker-Driven, Clinically Meaningful Innovation
COPD drug development has entered a critical new phase, marked by the emergence of first-in-class biologics, a growing pipeline targeting inflammatory and regenerative pathways, and a shift toward precision medicine and disease modification.
Designed for pharma and biotech drug developers, the inaugural summit brought together senior leaders advancing COPD assets to address the scientific and clinical challenges that continue to limit success. Unlike broader respiratory or academic meetings, the event focused on real-world pipeline progression, enabling open discussion, knowledge sharing, and practical problem-solving among decision-makers across the field.
- The summit welcomed 60+ senior leaders from pharma and biotech organisations shaping the next generation of COPD therapies and driving pipeline progress.
- Attendees built valuable relationships with peers and experts while discussing shared scientific, clinical, and regulatory challenges.
- Participants gained practical strategies to accelerate development timelines and maximise the success of their COPD pipelines.
By bringing together stakeholders from across the drug development spectrum, the meeting created a collaborative environment for exchanging insights, exploring emerging approaches, and advancing the future of COPD therapeutics.
Why COPD Drug Development Needs a New Approach
COPD Trials Rely on Endpoints That Don’t Show True Clinical Value
Endpoints such as exacerbation rates and FEV₁ often fail to capture early disease modification or meaningful patient benefit, limiting differentiation and regulatory confidence
Heterogenous Patient Populations Lead to Challenging Trial Design
Clinical heterogeneity across eosinophilic, neutrophilic, and mixed endotypes dilutes treatment effects and complicates trial design
Preclinical Models Don’t Predict What Happens in the Clinic
Traditional preclinical models struggle to predict human disease, contributing to high late-stage attrition
We Lack Objective Tools to Detect Progression and Prove Early Benefit
A lack of validated biomarkers and sensitive imaging tools delays early proof-of-concept and increases development risk
★ Featured Session: A Patient-Inspired Future for COPD Drug Development
From COPD Foundation
Exclusively At The COPD Drug Development Summit
Gain a direct understanding of how patients experience disease progression, exacerbations, and treatment response beyond traditional endpoints. This session will explore how incorporating patient-reported outcomes and lived experience can strengthen endpoint selection, improve trial relevance, and support more compelling regulatory and commercial narratives.
Explore the 2026 Event Guide
- Networking with 65+ discovery, translational, clinical and regulatory experts from the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, GSK, AstraZeneca, Merck, Connect Biopharma, Generate Biomedicines, Ethris, and many more
- Critical debates on regulatory expectations and opportunities to validate novel endpoints that de‑risk development and support faster, more confident approvals
- Expert perspectives on combining imaging, molecular, and clinical data to build a more holistic view of COPD biology and improve translational success
- Talks from 16+ respiratory specialists and C-level executives presenting novel targets and clinical trial strategies
- 3 days of essential industry collaboration including over 6 hours of specialized networking
Attending Companies Included
Explore the 2026 Agenda
Gain direct insight into how leading pharma and biotech teams are advancing COPD pipelines, with case studies and discussions focused on biomarker-led trials, emerging biologics, and strategies to overcome translational and regulatory barriers.
Partner With Us
Position your organisation alongside leading solution providers and engage directly with pharma and biotech teams actively advancing COPD pipelines, looking for partners to accelerate development.
Join a Highly Curated Respiratory Community
Build meaningful connections with the people shaping next-generation COPD