Ascension St. Vincent’s is the first health system in Florida to participate in a clinical trial for an investigational treatment option for patients who have frequent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, also known as lung attacks.
The AIRFLOW-3 clinical trial is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of targeted lung denervation (TLD), a bronchoscopic intervention designed to disrupt pulmonary nerve reflexes, which may reduce COPD lung attacks.
Ascension St. Vincent’s began enrolling patients in the trial in February.
Pulmonologist Dr. Jose Soto-Soto and his team recently treated a COPD patient successfully with TLD therapy in an hour-long outpatient procedure at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside.
“Many of our COPD patients experience lung attacks that can’t be controlled with their inhaler medications,” said Soto-Soto. “As doctors, we should embrace the development of interventional therapies that can potentially stabilize COPD patients and help reduce their risk of exacerbation. We are excited about the potential of using this investigational treatment for some of our patients as part of this clinical trial.”
COPD is a group of diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis that can cause breathing-related problems and block airflow. Symptoms include frequent coughing or wheezing, shortness of breath, trouble taking a deep breath and producing excess phlegm, mucus or sputum.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of Americans have been diagnosed with COPD and more than 50 percent of adults with low lung function didn’t realize that they had COPD, so the actual number could be even higher.
“We always want to keep advancing the level of high-quality, personalized and compassionate care that we provide,” said Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Estrellita Redmon. “When any of us have a healthcare need, we want to have options for treatment, so we’re grateful for the opportunity to offer this exciting new option to qualifying patients. Individuals who participate in this clinical trial are potentially helping improve COPD care for patients everywhere.”
The AIRFLOW-3 clinical trial is enrolling COPD patients in up to 25 centers across the U.S. and additional centers in Europe.
Patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, high-symptom burden and a history of COPD flare-ups may qualify for the clinical trial. Patients who think they may qualify can learn more by calling (904) 308-5761.
To learn more about Ascension St. Vincent’s, go to jaxhealth.com.
