Breathing Together

Severe asthma and Bpco: Awareness Forum on prevention starts in Lazio

The event promoted by Sanofi-Regeneron with the Regional Council to ensure multidisciplinary care of patients with chronic respiratory diseases

17 February 2026

Asma grave e Bpco: nel Lazio il primo Awareness Forum sulla prevenzione. Intervista a Fulvia Filippini, Public Affairs Country Head di Sanofi

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Aurigemma: building effective prevention pathways
Lazio is a key territory for Sanofi
The impact of severe asthma and Bpco in Italy

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Awareness-raising, prevention, multidisciplinary care of patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on the territory and in the workplace.

These are the objectives of the first Awareness Forum promoted by Sanofi-Regeneron under the patronage of the Regional Council of Lazio. The initiative also involves patients' associations and enriches the welfare programme "Un Consiglio in Salute - La prevenzione comincia da noi" (A Healthy Council - Prevention begins with us), launched by the Presidency of the Regional Council of Lazio, now in its third year.

Aurigemma: building effective prevention pathways

"The Regional Council of Lazio has chosen to invest in a structured manner in the dissemination of a true culture of prevention," stressed the chairman, Antonio Aurigemma, in the conviction that promoting correct lifestyles, information, and awareness can generate positive and lasting effects on people's health and wellbeing, in addition to encouraging earlier and more timely diagnoses. Initiatives such as the Awareness Forum represent a valuable opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between institutions, the scientific community and patient associations, focusing on the needs of citizens and helping to build health protection paths that are increasingly effective, integrated and close to the territory'.

On the occasion of the meeting, volunteers from the Respiriamo Insieme association carried out spirometry, measurements of the exhaled fraction of nitric oxide (so-called FeNO) and eosinophils in the blood at the Regional Council premises. Employees who chose to undergo a functional respiratory and haematological check-up benefited from this.

Lazio is a key territory for Sanofi

"As Sanofi," explained Fulvia Filippini, Public Affairs Country Head, "we hope that occasions like today's will translate into increasingly structured collaborations with regional ecosystems capable of focusing on prevention as a value for the system, early diagnosis, and patient care". The Lazio Region is a key territory for Sanofi, both in terms of industrial presence with the Anagni plant and clinical trial activities. Studies are active in 72 clinical centres in the region involving 160 patients in innovative trials. "Our research and development pipeline is constantly evolving," Filippini added, "to date we count 83 projects in the clinical phase, of which 38 already in advanced phase (phase III) or submitted to the regulatory authorities for approval, 9 in the respiratory area. Among these, 12 molecules represent potential innovative therapies that could result in new treatments for more than 40 new therapeutic indications globally by 2031'.

The Anagni plant is one of the main centres of excellence in Europe for the production of sterile injectable drugs, 80% of which are destined for export to over 90 countries. In 2024, 14.6 million were invested in technological updating and innovation. The economic impact on the territory is positive. "According to a Kpmg report," Filippini continued, "in 2024 we will have generated in Lazio a direct, indirect and induced contribution to GDP of 62 million euro, the second highest among all Italian regions, after Lombardy. The employment impact in the region is also significant: 1,900 jobs activated directly, indirectly and induced, confirming Lazio as a strategic territory for our presence".

The impact of severe asthma and Bpco in Italia

Chronic respiratory diseases represent a major challenge for modern healthcare systems, with a significant clinical, social and economic impact. In Italia, Bpco affects about 5.6% of the population with a mortality rate of 55%, while severe asthma affects about 300 thousand people.

"Early diagnosis and awareness of one's respiratory condition can make a significant difference in people's quality of life. As an association, we continue to work to ensure that prevention, information, and dialogue between doctor and patient become increasingly central elements in the care pathways,' commented Simona Barbaglia, president of the APS Respiriamo Insieme National Patient Association. The respiratory function screening activities that we conducted today for employees and officials of the Regional Council, together with our participation in the round table and the joint survey on the abuse of OCS in severe asthma, are concrete examples of virtuous collaboration between all the actors involved at the side of patients".