New Hope for Emphysema: Non-invasive Biologic Lung Volume Reduction System

Currently, people with emphysema are quite limited when it comes to available options to treat their disease. Because emphysema is an irreversible lung disease, the main objective of treatment has been to slow the progression of the disease and to improve quality of life. Up to now, this has been done with corticosteroids, aerosol therapy, bronchodilators, oxygen and sometimes antibiotics, which often provide little relief, especially in the end stages of the disease.

Of late, lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has been an accepted method of surgical intervention for those in advanced stages of emphysema. This surgery involves removing diseased parts of the lungs to allow for better functioning of the healthier portions. Although this procedure can be effective, it is very risky and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.

Aeris Therapeutics has come up with a possible alternative to LVRS, however, and it is called the Biologic Lung Volume Reduction System (BLVR). This system, currently still in the trial phases, achieves lung volume reduction without surgery and all its accompanying risks. A non-invasive procedure, BLVR is done by using a bronchoscope, whereby the physician directs treatment to the most damaged areas of the lungs. The treatment delivers a precise measurement of medication and biologics which, when combined at the treatment site, form a bioabsorbable gel that actually remodels the damaged parts of the lungs to permanently collapse the diseased areas. The subsequent reduction in lung volume creates more space for the healthy portions of the lungs to function more effectively.

Read more about the BLVR System and watch a video demonstrating how it works.