Blocking harmful lung damage during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by infections

We propose pioneering studies to prevent the consequences of infection-related exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that lead to lung damage and death. We have identified two novel and distinct therapeutic strategies, using the anti-fibrotic drug pirfenidone and an anti-inflammatory STING signalling inhibitor called idronoxil, to avert damaging inflammation and reduce fibrosis in our COPD and infection models. Critically, we have shown that both drugs increase beneficial immune responses to infection, overcoming the major limitation of oral glucocorticoids, the current therapy for COPD exacerbations.