COPD Foundation takes over Drive4COPD campaign leadership from BI

WASHINGTON — A nonprofit organization focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will take over a COPD awareness campaign from the drug company that started it.

The COPD Foundation said it would lead the Drive4COPD campaign — originally started by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals in 2010 to screen people for the disease with the assumption that 24 million Americans may have it but are not aware. BI will continue to provide funding for the program.

"Although we have screened more than 2 million people for risk of COPD to date, there are still many more people to reach," BI VP respiratory marketing Kathleen Dowd said. "That's why we are pleased to announce that we are transitioning leadership of the Drive4COPD program to the COPD Foundation. This change will enable the campaign to engage broader support and collaboration with more stakeholders."

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