SMi's 7th annual COPD conference returns to London this autumn to provide the industry with a platform for discussion and a forum to learn from market led case studies and key note addresses delivered through five sessions on the most current topics in COPD.

Session 1. Drug Development And Combinational Therapies:
Gain insight into formulation developments and the manufacturing of dry powder inhalation products through a keynote address delivered by Novartis's Operational Lead in Inhalation and New Solids, Dr Frank Thielmann. The role of immunology, protein kinase pathways and novel therapeutic agents will also be discussed by Imperial College London, the National Heart & Lung Institute and the University of Basque respectively. Strategic guidance on combination therapy will be given by Teva and Prosonix, plus Verona Pharma CEO, Jan Anders-Karlsson, provides an exclusive address on their "first in class" inhaled COPD Drug.

Session 2. Developing Clinical Trials For Copd:
Novartis COPD Medical Director, Dr Konstantinos Kostikas ascertains the ACOS Definition and explains the characteristics of a grey-zone syndrome which is currently excluded from asthma and COPD trials. In this session, key topics on endpoint in clinical trials, patient selection, recruitment and effective rehabilitation will also be covered by Mundipharma, University hospital Geneva and Respiratory Research Clinical Trials.

Session 3. Defining COPD Pulmonary Indications Through Biomarkers:
Glyconics Limited open the session with an update on hand held device for biomarker selection which uses ground breaking technology in respiratory clinical diagnostics. This will be followed by a Janssen case study on the ADEPT Trial which will discuss personalised medicine and biomarker assessment.

Session 4. COPD Co-Morbidities:
This spotlight will ask questions such as: What is this link between co-morbidities and disease? What current issues do co-morbidities present with COPD treatment? Do corticosteroids cause more harm than good?

Session 5. Managing Exacerbations:
An update on the clinical management of exacerbations will be given by Chiesi Chief Medical Officer and Director of Global Clinical Development, Stefano Petruzzelli. With additional presentations from University Hospital Geneva and MedImmune, the final session will address pulmonary rehabilitation, non-invasive ventilation and will investigate the role if ectopic lymphoid follicles in respiratory disease.

The conference closes with a host nation addresses presented by the British Lung Foundation. Noell Snell, Director of Research, evaluates the current state of UK respiratory research, its future outlook, and its strategy in partnership with patients.

For further details on the programme or to register, visit the event website at http://www.copd-conference.co.uk