A new injection is helping people with COPD breathe more easily
Tuesday 30 June 2026
A new treatment now available at Guy’s and St Thomas’
Patients at Guy’s and St Thomas’ are among the first in the UK to receive a new treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a long-term condition that makes it hard to breathe.
The treatment, called dupilumab, is given as an injection every 2 weeks. It can be self-administered at home in a similar way to an insulin pen, offering a new option for people whose symptoms are difficult to control.
A different way to treat COPD
COPD is a progressive condition that affects millions of people and has a major impact on daily life. Many people live with ongoing breathlessness, fatigue and frequent flare-ups, sometimes needing hospital care.
Most current treatments focus on opening up the airways or reducing inflammation more broadly. While these can help, they do not work well for everyone.
Dupilumab works in a more targeted way. It reduces specific types of inflammation in the body by blocking proteins known as IL-4 and IL-13, which are involved in the inflammatory process. By doing this, it helps reduce swelling in the airways and mucus build-up, making it easier to breathe.
A more personalised approach
This treatment is designed for people with a particular type of COPD linked to immune cells called eosinophils.
These cells are part of the body’s defence system, but in some people they can drive inflammation in the lungs and lead to more frequent flare-ups, also known as exacerbations.
By identifying patients with this type of inflammation, we can offer a more personalised treatment that targets the underlying cause of their symptoms, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Helping reduce flare-ups and hospital visits
For many people with COPD, flare-ups can be distressing and disruptive, leading to worsening symptoms such as breathlessness, coughing and increased mucus.
In clinical trials, dupilumab reduced these flare-ups by around a third. Fewer exacerbations can mean fewer hospital visits, less need for additional medicines such as steroids, and a better quality of life.
“Anything that helps me breathe better”
For Patrick Regan, 67, who was diagnosed with COPD around 15 years ago, the new treatment offers hope of getting more out of daily life.
“I was happy to have it, anything to make me feel a bit better and breathing better,” he said. “COPD affects me a lot and stops me doing things I want to do like walking and going out with my kids and grandkids. That’s one of the most important reasons to get this new medication so I can do more things with the kids.”
His wife, Dionne Regan, described the wider impact on family life. “Over the last 15 years Patrick has significantly deteriorated, and it’s had a huge impact on him and the family. When he gets rushed to hospital that affects all of us. The aim is to keep Pat well, but this new treatment will also have a knock-on effect for the whole family.”
Patrick Regan, pictured with Dr Amy Dewar, was the first patient to receive the new treatment
Brian Dodsworth, 70, who also received the injection, hopes it will improve his day-to-day symptoms. “I have been feeling worse than usual recently and I’m hoping it will help me get a decent night’s sleep. I only get around four hours of sleep at night and then I end up falling asleep in the day. It takes my life away.”
Brian Dodsworth was the 2nd patient to receive the treatment
What to expect from treatment
The first injection is given in hospital. After that, patients are supported to give the injections themselves at home every 2 weeks.
Patients are closely monitored over the following year to see how their symptoms change. If the treatment is working well, it can be continued longer term.
Research behind the treatment
This new approach builds on years of research led by teams at King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’.
Researchers have been studying the role of eosinophils in COPD for over 2 decades, helping to better understand why some patients experience more frequent flare-ups and how treatments can be targeted more effectively.
By bringing research and patient care together, the aim is to offer more precise treatments that can make a meaningful difference to people living with COPD.
Clinical and research staff from the King's Health Partners COPD team
Looking ahead
Healthcare professionals hope this treatment will not only improve day-to-day symptoms for patients, but also reduce hospital admissions and pressure on urgent care services, particularly during winter.
For people living with COPD, this treatment could help them breathe more easily, stay well for longer, and get back to the things that matter most in their lives.
More information
If you're living with COPD or supporting someone who is, you can find more practical advice and support on managing your condition day to day on the NHS website. This includes information on treatments, staying active, and what to do if your symptoms change.
Last updated: June 2026
