Experts: Advances in precision medicine to reshape future of respiratory health

Chinese and foreign medical experts attending a global summit in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, have noted that with chronic respiratory diseases having become a major global public health challenge, advances in precision medicine will reshape the future of respiratory health.

The 2025 International Respiratory Immunology Summit, held on Nov 15, brought together leading experts to explore the latest academic advances in respiratory immunology and address critical challenges in respiratory health, in order to bolster progress toward precision diagnosis and treatment for chronic respiratory diseases.

Professor Chen Rongchang, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, stressed that chronic respiratory diseases now constitute a major global public health challenge.

He affirmed that while the rapid evolution of respiratory immunology provides vital insights into underlying disease mechanisms, continuously driving innovation in precision targeted therapy, this transformation from symptom relief to tackling fundamental mechanisms offers new hope for altering disease trajectories.

The summit, hosted by the Beijing Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases with Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and supported by Sanofi China, also intends to design a new blueprint to benefit the grand vision of "Healthy China 2030".

Dr Tong Yu, medical head of Sanofi Greater China, emphasized that chronic airway diseases, particularly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, pose a substantial burden on patients, families, and society.

Recent years have witnessed a greater understanding of type 2 inflammatory mechanisms, which play a pivotal role in disease progression and represent a key therapeutic target, Tong said.

As a global healthcare leader, Sanofi remains dedicated to developing innovative therapies that deliver improved treatment options for patients and drive remarkable scientific progress — especially in type 2 inflammatory chronic airway disease research.

The summit's morning session featured three key presentations.

While delivering his "Overview of Immune Progress in Chronic Respiratory Diseases", Professor Kian Fan Chung, from Imperial College London, explained that asthma and COPD share common type 2 inflammatory mechanisms primarily driven by IL-4 and IL-13, which can trigger airway remodeling.

Professor Chen Ruchong from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University followed with "Assessment and Identification of Type 2 Inflammatory Biomarkers and Comorbidities", emphasizing that evaluating type 2 inflammation has become central to managing chronic airway diseases in the precision medicine era.

"Recognizing type 2 inflammatory comorbidities and implementing co-treatment strategies can maximize individual patient benefits", Chen Ruchong said.

In sharing his "Advancing Lung Function Preservation and Recovery", Professor Frederik Trinkmann, from Heidelberg University in Germany, highlighted cutting-edge technologies for preserving and restoring lung function, noting that lung function assessment plays a vital role not only in screening and diagnosis, but also in predicting long-term prognosis for asthma and COPD patients.

Delivering opening remarks at the summit's afternoon session, professor Wen Fuqiang, from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, emphasized the growing importance of biologics in respiratory disease treatment and the direction of precision medicine.

Professor Matteo Bonini, from Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, presented "Unlocking the Benefits of Early Biologic Therapy in Asthma", stating that early biologic initiation enables more comprehensive airway inflammation control, preserves lung function, reduces exacerbations, and provides long-term benefits, potentially achieving "clinical remission".

Professor Guo Yanfei from Beijing Hospital elaborated on "COPD Entering the Era of Biologics", stating that COPD treatment has formally entered a new biologic therapy era.

The attendees also engaged in a discussion on "Initiation Timing and Selection of Biologics Targeting Type 2 Inflammation in Asthma and COPD", affirming its critical importance and thoroughly exchanging clinical perspectives.

Professor Zhang Min from Shanghai General Hospital emphasized that developing locally applicable consensus guidelines based on Chinese patient evidence is crucial for enhancing domestic standards and embodying a truly patient-centric approach.

The participants also discussed "Chinese Asthma Guidelines 'Tailored to Local Realities', to improve the Efficiency of Asthma screening, Diagnosis, and Evaluation, and Refine the Application of Biologics".

Through Sino-foreign exchanges on advanced diagnostic and therapeutic concepts, the event will positively contribute to optimizing local clinical pathways and enhancing precision targeted therapy efficacy.

Tong said Sanofi remains committed its mission to "Chase the Miracles of Science to Improve People's Lives" and also to contributing to the ambitious vision of "Healthy China 2030".