Important Clinical Considerations for Patients With Bronchiectasis

Clinical Brief: Future Directions in Bronchiectasis Research and Care

Main Discussion Topics

• Current research is moving toward precision treatments for specific bronchiectasis phenotypes.
• Development of bronchiectasis Centers of Excellence is improving care coordination.
• Patient support networks provide additional resources beyond medical care.

Key Points for Physicians

• Ongoing clinical trials are investigating the following:
  • DPP1 inhibition and neutrophil cascade modulation
  • Type 2 inflammation therapies
  • Inhaled anti-inflammatory agents
  • CFTR modulators in non–cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis
• The COPD Foundation has established the following:
  • 27 bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) Centers of Excellence
  • 6 clinical associate centers
  • Plans to expand to 150-plus centers
• Additional patient resources include the NTM patient support network.

Notable Insights

The field is shifting from simply categorizing bronchiectasis as CF vs non-CF toward more nuanced phenotyping that enables targeted treatment approaches.

Clinical Significance

The establishment of specialized centers and increased research focus on bronchiectasis represents a significant advancement in addressing this previously underrecognized condition.