C4 Drugs for the treatment of airway disease

Both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterized by airflow obstruction and chronic inflammation of the airways, but there are important differences in inflammatory mechanisms and response to therapy between these diseases [1, 2]. This chapter discusses the pharmacology of the drugs used in the treatment of obstructive airways diseases. These drugs include bronchodilators, which act mainly by reversing airway smooth muscle contraction and anti-inflammatory drugs, which in asthma suppress the inflammatory response in the airways. The most effective anti-inflammatory treatment for asthma is corticosteroids, which are covered in chapter C13. In COPD, no effective anti-inflammatory drugs are available, but several new classes of drug are now in development.