Andrew Menzies-Gow, Vice President for Respiratory and Immunology at AstraZeneca, is driving a transformation in respiratory medicine. He advocates for earlier diagnosis, targeted treatments, and systemic changes to redefine patient care.
Menzies-Gow, with over two decades in respiratory care, including extensive work in asthma, highlights the critical importance of ensuring the "right patient gets the right medicine at the right time." This principle guides his focus on both developing new medicines and ensuring broad access.
Under his leadership, AstraZeneca teams are contributing to global guidelines and supporting innovative therapies worldwide. The company is moving beyond symptom control towards a proactive, anti-inflammatory approach, targeting airway inflammation with precision. This includes a focus on achieving remission by preventing asthma attacks and preserving lung function, while reducing reliance on oral corticosteroids due to their significant side effects.
For COPD, a condition with high global mortality and morbidity, Menzies-Gow sees growing optimism. Improvements in inhaled therapies and the emergence of biologic treatments are fostering a more hopeful outlook. He stresses the need for advocacy and appropriate treatment, countering the stigma often associated with the disease.
AstraZeneca is also addressing the environmental impact of respiratory care. The focus is on developing inhalers with low global warming potential propellants and ensuring patients use devices effectively for optimal control, rather than mandating specific inhaler types.
Looking ahead, Menzies-Gow emphasizes that good respiratory care hinges on early, accurate diagnosis before irreversible damage occurs. He identifies improving diagnosis as a key area for change, particularly in primary care, suggesting new tools and AI could play a crucial role. Getting the diagnosis right at the outset is fundamental to effective intervention and improved long-term outcomes for patients.