7 Pulmonology Headlines You Missed in August 2025: A Month of Firsts & Refined Guidelines
August 2025 marked a significant period for pulmonology, highlighted by the FDAS groundbreaking approval of the first immunotherapy for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) and a shift towards disease-modifying treatments for bronchiectasis. Beyond these landmark approvals, updates to sinusitis guidelines and advancements in asthma risk prediction offered further progress in respiratory care. here’s a recap of seven key headlines from the month:
1. First Immunotherapy Approved for Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: The FDA approved zopapogene imadenovec-drba (Papzimeos) as the first immunotherapy for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in adults. This non-replicating adenoviral vector-based therapy offers a new approach to managing the disease,previously reliant on repeated surgical interventions.
2. Bronchiectasis Treatment Enters a New Era: After a long period without disease-modifying options,the FDA approved brensocatib (Brinsupri) in August,marking a turning point in bronchiectasis care. Pulmonologists are now exploring how to integrate this therapy into a thorough management plan for the chronic and often debilitating condition.
3.Sinusitis Guidelines Prioritize Cautious Antibiotic Use: The AAO-HNSF released its 2025 update to adult sinusitis guidelines,placing a strong emphasis on cautious antibiotic use and shared decision-making with patients. Watchful waiting is now recommended as the preferred initial approach for uncomplicated acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, with amoxicillin (with or without clavulanate) remaining the first-line therapy if antibiotics are necessary.
4. Oral Microbiome Shows Promise in Predicting Childhood Asthma: New research suggests that analyzing a child’s oral microbiome, alongside serum inflammatory markers and asthma attack history, can significantly improve the prediction of future severe asthma attacks. Models incorporating these biomarkers demonstrated high accuracy, surpassing customary measures like FENO and blood eosinophil counts.
5. breaking the Surgery Cycle for RRP: HCPLive spoke with Simon Best, MD, regarding the FDA’s August 14 approval of zopapogene imadenovec-drba (Papzimeos) for RRP. Dr. Best highlighted the therapy’s potential to address a lifelong, HPV 6/11-driven disease that has historically been managed solely through repeated surgeries.
6. Focus on Disease Modification in Bronchiectasis: A special report from HCPLive featuring pulmonologists Albert Rizzo, MD, and James Chalmers, MBChB, PhD, detailed the evolving understanding of bronchiectasis. The report emphasized the disease’s chronic morbidity, frequently enough delayed diagnosis, and the importance of moving towards therapies that modify disease progression, now bolstered by the approval of brensocatib.
7. Positive Trial Results for RRP Immunotherapy: A pivotal Phase 1/2 trial of zopapogene imadenovec-drba (Papzimeos) showed promising results, with 51% of patients achieving complete response and over 85% experiencing reduced surgical interventions. The therapy also demonstrated a favorable safety profile, primarily consisting of mild-to-moderate injection site reactions and systemic symptoms.
These developments signal a period of innovation and refinement in pulmonology, offering new hope for patients and evolving the standard of care across a range of respiratory conditions.
