Abstract Rationale Biologic therapies targeting type 2 inflammation are emerging as a new option in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonologists are familiar with biologics in severe asthma, but successful adoption in COPD requires confidence in trial evidence, patient selection, and applicability to a disease often viewed as structural rather than inflammatory. We examined pooled outcomes across five recent educational initiatives to characterize readiness, barriers, and opportunities for biologic integration in COPD care. Methods From December 2023-March 2025, five continuing medical education (CME) programs educated 4,683 unique pulmonologists. Learners completed pre/post assessments of knowledge and skills, with confidence rating to differentiate high- vs low-certainty responses. Content focused on the role of type 2 inflammation in COPD, candidate identification, and initiation of biologic therapy. Qualitative feedback was collected through open-ended survey responses. Pooled quantitative and qualitative findings were analyzed descriptively. Results Baseline performance indicated transference from asthma: pulmonologists scored 62-76% correct on early assessments of type 2 inflammation and trial familiarity. However, confidence adjustment revealed substantial uncertainty, with many correct responses made at low confidence. Post-education, accuracy and confidence improved markedly: correct responses rose to 86-96% across multiple items, with the majority of learners (55%-77%) now high-confidence. Skills in patient selection and therapy initiation improved from 74% to 93% correct. Qualitative findings (N = 150) revealed enthusiasm but also persistent concerns:ÏAnticipated impact: 88% identified biologics as the aspect of COPD care most likely to change in the next few years; 76% were “very willing” to consider adoptionÏEvidence gaps: questions about lung function benefit, durability of response, and head-to-head comparisonsÏPatient selection challenges: uncertainty around eosinophil thresholds, asthma-COPD overlap, and comorbid populationsÏPractical barriers: skepticism about injections in older COPD patients, need for Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) endorsement, and safety concerns Conclusions Across five large-scale initiatives, 4,683 pulmonologists demonstrated strong baseline familiarity with biologics, but limited confidence in applying the evidence to COPD. Education improved both accuracy and certainty in selecting appropriate assessment responses, yethesitation remains regarding efficacy, eligibility, and disease-model differences. These new pooled data suggest that accelerating adoption of biologics in COPD will require focused education on trial interpretation (eg, BOREAS, NOTUS), clearer patient selection guidance, and reinforcement through guideline and peer validation. This abstract is funded by: The activities this data is based on were supported by independent medical education grants from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Sanofi
Boyd et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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