The main goals of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are to relieve symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, prevent disease progression, and reduce mortality. GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) guidelines for treatment of COPD were updated recently. Treatment of acute exacerbations is not discussed here. Drugs available for treatment of COPD are listed in Tables 1 and 3.

Eohilia (Takeda), an oral suspension formulation of the corticosteroid budesonide, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in patients ≥11 years old. It is the first oral drug to be approved in the US for this indication. The subcutaneously injected interleukin (IL)-4 receptor antagonist dupilumab (Dupixent) is approved for treatment of EoE in patients ≥1 year old who weigh ≥15 kg.

Atopic dermatitis (AD; also known as eczema) is frequently associated with other atopic disorders such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergy. It commonly presents in infancy and early childhood and has a relapsing course, often improving by adolescence, but sometimes persisting into (or first appearing in) adulthood or even old age.

The FDA has approved the subcutaneously injected interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha antagonist dupilumab (Dupixent – Sanofi/Regeneron) for treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in patients ≥12 years old who weigh ≥40 kg and treatment of prurigo nodularis in adults. Dupilumab is the first drug to be approved in the US for each of these indications. It is also FDA-approved for treatment of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.