For the millions of Americans living with respiratory diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), each breath can be a challenge—a quiet struggle often going unseen.
These conditions don’t just affect the lungs though. For many individuals, asthma and COPD can impact other aspects of life, including the ability to perform daily tasks such as attending work.1,2 With a long-standing legacy in respiratory care, we’re working to improve outcomes for these groups. We’re taking a bold new approach—one grounded in precision medicine, sustainability and equity—to transform what’s possible for patients with respiratory disease at every stage of their journey.
Asthma and COPD: Growing burdens hidden in plain sight
Asthma and COPD are persistent public health challenges in the United States, despite extensive research and therapeutic advancements.3-6 Millions of patients continue to suffer from respiratory symptoms, with many experiencing periods of exacerbation and hospitalization.4-6
Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the US, with approximately 5-10% suffering from severe asthma.4,7 Additionally, around half of the people with asthma have uncontrolled disease.8,9 Many people with asthma adapt their lives to try to help manage their symptoms.10
For those living with COPD, the burden is similarly alarming. COPD is one of the leading causes of death in the US, impacting nearly 16 million individuals, with many more likely to be undiagnosed.11 COPD symptoms often emerge gradually, and by the time a diagnosis is made, the disease may already be advanced. Patients frequently experience flare-ups and hospitalizations that may have been prevented with earlier intervention and access to the right therapy.5,12,13
Overlapping symptoms, care delays and diagnostic inequities contribute to the existing challenges of these diseases.14-20 People living in lower-income neighborhoods or high-pollution areas, for example, are more likely to develop asthma or COPD, and less likely to receive timely care. ZIP code remains one of the most powerful predictors of respiratory health outcomes.21,22
Treating the person, not just the disease
Asthma and COPD aren’t just numbers—they’re people. That’s why we’re focusing on the mechanisms of these chronic diseases, not just the symptoms.
Part of our respiratory portfolio is designed to target the underlying inflammation driving disease progression, to preserve lung function and help prevent exacerbations. Our approach integrates both biologics and inhaled therapies, giving clinicians effective tools to potentially intervene earlier and modify the course of disease. We are working to ensure we embed equity in everything we do from discovery to delivery.
A full-spectrum pipeline addresses a range of diseases
Our therapies are a testament to the power of modern medicine in reimagining what’s possible for patients with asthma and COPD today and well into the future. What sets us apart is the breadth and depth of our pipeline. From early intervention to advanced disease management, we are uniquely positioned to support patients throughout every phase of their respiratory journey.
No two patients are the same. That’s why our goal is to ensure every patient gets the right treatment at the right time. We’re building solutions that evolve with the patient—not just for one stage of their condition. This includes developing therapies that align with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and using real-world data to identify care gaps and deliver more personalized treatment.
Sustainability meets patient care
Respiratory health and environmental health are deeply connected. Air pollution and climate change can exacerbate conditions like asthma and COPD.3,22,23 That’s why we’re committed to innovative solutions that protect both people and the planet.
This year, we’re starting a transition to pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) that contain a next-generation propellant with near-zero global warming potential. This allows patients to receive the same high-quality care while reducing the carbon footprint of treatment—helping both the people and environment in communities around the world.
This effort is a part of our broader sustainability pledge, which includes reducing emissions across its operations and empowering healthcare systems to do the same.
Addressing disparities and reaching the underserved
Through mobile screening programs, we’re partnering with community groups and advocacy organizations to meet patients where they are, because ZIP codes should not be an indicator of health outcomes and access to care. We are also using data to identify high-risk areas and inform outreach strategies to ensure no one gets left behind.
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Driving change for every breath through collaboration
We can’t transform respiratory care alone. Through collaboration with clinicians, patients, advocacy groups and policymakers, we’re making lung health a public health priority, including pushing for broader eligibility for COPD and respiratory care screenings and expanding access to GDMT to close persistent gaps in care.
Our commitment is clear, by advancing science, rethinking sustainability, and fighting for health equity, we are redefining what it means to innovate for every breath. Because no one should have to fight for air—and every breath should be one of ease and possibility.
References:
1. Fletcher MJ, et al. COPD uncovered: an international survey on the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] on a working age population. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:612.
2. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. My Life with Asthma Survey Overview. 2017. https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/my-life-with-asthma-in-2017-survey-findings-report.pdf. Last Accessed: May 14, 2025.
3. Global Initiative for Asthma. Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. Updated May 2025. https://ginasthma.org/2025-gina-strategy-report/. Last Accessed: May 14, 2025.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most Recent Asthma Data. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma-data/about/most-recent-asthma-data.html. Last Accessed May 14, 2025.
5. American Lung Association. COPD Trends Brief: Burden, 2024. https://www.lung.org/research/trends-in-lung-disease/copd-trends-brief/copd-burden. Last Accessed: May 14, 2025.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). https://www.cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease.html. Last Accessed: May 14, 2025.
7. American Lung Association. Severe asthma. www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/types/severe-asthma. Last Accessed May 1, 2025.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Uncontrolled Asthma Among Children With Current Asthma, 2018–2020. https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthma_stats/uncontrolled-asthma-children-2018-2020.htm. Last Accessed May 14, 2025.
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Uncontrolled Asthma Among Adults, 2019. https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthma_stats/uncontrolled-asthma-adults-2019.htm. Last Accessed May 14, 2025.
10. Miles C, et al. Barriers and facilitators of effective self-management in asthma: Systematic review and thematic synthesis of patient and healthcare professional views. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2017;27:57.
11. American Lung Association. COPD Trends Brief: Prevalence. https://www.lung.org/research/trends-in-lung-disease/copd-trends-brief/copd-prevalence. Last Accessed November 14, 2023.
12. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Overview: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK315789/. Last Accessed: May 14, 2025.
13. Chandra D, et al. Acute exacerbations of COPD: Delay in presentation and the risk of hospitalization. COPD. 2009;6:95-103.
14. Nakawah MO, et al. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the overlap syndrome. J Am Board Fam Med. 2013;26:470–477.
15. American Lung Association. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome. (ACOS). https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/types/asthma-copd-overlap-syndrome. Last Accessed May 14, 2025.
16. George M, et al. Suboptimal control of asthma among diverse patients: A US mixed methods focus group study. J Asthma Allergy. 2022;15:1511-1526.
17. Volerman A, et al. Solutions for asthma disparities. Pediatrics. 2017;139:e20162546.
18. Maus SE, et al. Diagnostic inaccuracies in COPD: Misdiagnosis, race and gender disparities. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon. 2025;20:319-323.
19. Mamary AJ, et al. Race and gender disparities are evident in COPD underdiagnoses across all severities of measured airflow obstruction. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2018;5:177-184.
20. Locke ER, et al. Care-seeking and delay of care during COPD exacerbations. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2022;32:7.
21. Gaffney AW, et al. Socioeconomic inequality in respiratory health in the US From 1959 to 2018. JAMA Intern Med. 2021;181:968-976.
22. American Lung Association. Disparities in the Impact of Air Pollution. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/disparities. Last Accessed May 14, 2025.
23. Covert HH, et al. Climate change impacts on respiratory health: Exposure, vulnerability, and risk. Physiol Rev. 2023;103:2507-2522.
