Biologic therapies are reshaping how clinicians approach COPD management. In this opening episode of Season 8, Dr. MeiLan Han walks us through the science, the evidence, and the practical steps that can help you bring precision medicine into your respiratory practice.

For more on COPD care and self-management resources, visit the COPD hub on chroniclungdiseases.com.

About This Episode

For decades, COPD was treated as a single, uniform disease. That’s changing. A new generation of targeted therapies is making it possible to match treatment to patient biology, and the results from recent clinical trials are giving clinicians reason for optimism.

In this episode, Dr. MeiLan Han explores what biologics actually do in the context of COPD, how blood eosinophil levels guide patient selection, and what the BOREAS and NOTUS trials tell us about real-world outcomes. She also addresses the practical challenges of integrating biologics into clinical practice, from interpreting biomarker variability to setting honest expectations with patients.

Whether you’re already considering biologics for select patients or just beginning to explore this space, this conversation offers a grounded, evidence-based starting point.

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always apply clinical judgment and refer to current guidelines when making treatment decisions for individual patients.

Today You Will Learn

• How biologic therapies differ from traditional COPD treatments and why they represent a meaningful shift in disease management
• Why blood eosinophil counts matter as a biomarker, and how to interpret their variability in practice
• What the BOREAS and NOTUS clinical trials found, including outcomes related to exacerbation reduction, lung function, and symptom improvement
• How to identify COPD patients who are most likely to benefit from a biologic approach
• The role of phenotyping and personalized medicine in moving toward a goal of zero exacerbations
• How to set realistic, informed expectations with patients about what biologics can and cannot achieve
• What emerging therapies on the horizon may mean for the future of COPD care

Our Special Guest

MeiLan K. Han, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan. A leading expert in COPD, she specializes in using imaging for disease phenotyping and directs the Michigan Airways Program.

Dr. Han is a noted author, an American Lung Association spokesperson, and serves on the scientific committee of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). She is also a member of the board of the COPD Foundation.

She is the author of Breathing Lessons, a book that helps general readers understand how their lungs work and how to protect them — reflecting her commitment to making respiratory health knowledge accessible far beyond the clinic.

Resources to go deeper

• GOLD Report on COPD Management
• BOREAS Trial Details
• NOTUS Trial Details
• European Respiratory Society (ERS)
• CTS COPD Pharmacotherapy Guidelines
• Living Well with COPD Series

Sponsor and Collaborating Organizations

RESPIPLUS™ received sponsorship support from Sanofi and Regeneron for this podcast series.