Lykke Hinsch Gylvin, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“How awareness, disruptive innovation and shared responsibility can transform outcomes
We are not conscious of it -. our breath – until it is no longer effortless. When it comes to lung health, the first warning signs are often easy to dismiss: A cough that lingers for months or a little breathlessness on the stairs. Sometimes, symptoms appear in unexpected ways – swollen ankles or shoulder pain – and for some, there are no symptoms at all.¹⁺²
That’s what makes conditions affecting the lungs so devastating: They hide in plain sight, or symptoms are overlooked. The result? Too often, these diseases are diagnosed very late. More than two-thirds of lung cancer cases are found at an advanced stage, when survival rates drop dramatically.³ For pulmonary fibrosis, patients can spend months or even years searching for answers, losing precious time when early intervention could change everything.⁴
The silence surrounding these diseases – due to missed symptoms, delayed diagnosis and stigma – has real and lasting consequences. It’s time to change that.
Lung disease isn’t just about physical symptoms – it’s the weight people carry in silence
In lung cancer, many delay seeking help because they fear being judged or misunderstood because of perceived stigma.⁵⁺⁶ For some, that fear turns inward, creating feelings of guilt or shame.⁷ Those with pulmonary fibrosis may also experience a lack of understanding, or feelings of isolation.⁸ Across lung conditions, this silence adds yet another barrier to timely diagnosis and care.⁵⁺⁸
For a moment in history, that silence was broken
During COVID-19, for the first time in living memory lung health dominated the headlines, and the fragility people with lung disease have always known became a shared experience. Suddenly, lung health wasn’t just a concern for the vulnerable – it became everyone’s reality, regardless of age, fitness, or background.
But the pandemic also exposed deep gaps in care, from delayed diagnoses to inequities in access.⁹⁺¹⁰ It reminded us that strong health systems, early intervention, and equitable care aren’t optional – they’re essential. As the world moves forward, one truth remains clear: Lung health should be a global priority, and it’s everyone’s responsibility.
The numbers are stark – and moving in the wrong direction
Each year, respiratory diseases claim millions of lives. In 2021 alone, more than 18 million people died from lung-related illnesses¹¹ and by 2050, chronic respiratory diseases like COPD could affect nearly 600 million globally.¹² Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers¹³ and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is on the rise⁴ – often stealing years before diagnosis.
Earlier this year, the 78th World Health Assembly adopted a landmark resolution calling for a global, integrated approach to lung health.¹¹ This is more than a policy milestone – it’s a rallying cry for urgent, coordinated action to close gaps, strengthen health systems, and ensure everyone has the chance to breathe freely.
Despite daunting statistics, there are reasons to be hopeful
Bold ideas – scientific, digital, and systemic – are reshaping what’s possible in lung health.
Clinical research is becoming more inclusive and patient driven. At Boehringer, more than 90% of our trials are co-designed with patients, caregivers, and trial sites – making participation easier and results more relevant.¹⁴
Digital innovation is accelerating early detection. AI-powered tools such as an FDA-cleared AI imaging platform that analyzes lung scans to detect signs of fibrosing lung disease at an earlier stage may help clinicians with earlier diagnosis and treatment.¹⁵
Meanwhile, molecular testing is playing a pivotal role in advancing lung cancer care by identifying genetic alterations in certain subtypes – such as non-small cell lung cancer – allowing for more personalized and targeted treatment approaches.¹⁶
Disruptive innovation – scientific, digital, and systemic – will be the catalyst
At Boehringer, we’re committed to transforming the lives of people affected by lung disease with our innovative pipeline – working together with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. For those living with pulmonary fibrosis, our overarching ambition in research is to not only halt disease progression, but also prevent complications through early interventions, and ultimately, create a future without the threat of pulmonary fibrosis. For patients facing lung cancer, we aim to deliver innovative treatments that not only give more time but ensure that time is lived with the best possible quality of life and dignity.
Achieving this vision requires more than scientific breakthroughs – it demands turning innovation into real-world impact for every patient, including those in underserved communities. That means connecting our innovative pipeline to our goal for patients as well as rethinking how care is delivered. At Boehringer, we’re doing our part: amplifying patient voices, partnering with patients on our clinical trials, and investing in real-world research that reflects the diversity of those we serve.
But true progress can’t happen alone. It calls for collaboration across the entire healthcare system. Together we can make the invisible visible – and help people living with diseases affecting the lung breathe more freely.
References
- American Lung Association. Warning Signs of Lung Disease. Available here. (Accessed October 2025).
- City of Hope Cancer Center. 8 Lung Cancer Symptoms That May Surprise You. Available here: (Accessed October 2025).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). United States Cancer Statistics: Lung Cancer Stat Bite. Available here. (Accessed October 2025).
- Podolanczuk AJ, Thomson CC, Remy-Jardin M, et al. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: state of the art for 2023. Eur Resp J. 2023;61(4):2200957.
- American Lung Association. Addressing the Stigma of Lung Cancer: Examining a Decade of Progress and Challanges. Available at Addressing the Stigma of Lung Cancer (Accessed November 2025).
- Carter-Harris L. Lung cancer stigma as a barrier to medical help-seeking behavior: Practice implications. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract.
- Williamson T, Kwon D, Riley K, et al. Lung Cancer Stigma: Does Smoking History Matter? Ann Behav Med. 2020;54:535-540.
- Lee J, Tikellis G, Corte T, et al. The supportive care needs of people living with pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers: a systematic review. Eur Respir Rev. 2020:29(156).
- World Health Organization. Pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim report, 27 August 2020. (Accessed October 2025).
- Public Health Institute. COVID-19 Study Finds Striking Inequities in Access to Healthcare During the Pandemic(Accessed October 2025).
- World Health Assembly Resolution WHA78.5 (2025). Available: WHO WHA78.5 PDF(Accessed October 2025).
- Boers E, Barrett M, Su JG, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(12):e2346598.
- World Health Organization. Lung cancer fact sheet. 26 June 2023. Available. (Accessed October 2025).
- Boehringer Ingelheim. Patient centricity and site centricity in clinical trials. Available.(Accessed October 2025).
- Siemens Healthineers. Siemens Healthineers receives FDA clearance for AI-Rad Companion Chest CT, an AI-powered imaging platform for detection of fibrosing lung disease. Available.(Accessed October 2025).
- American Lung Association. Biomarker Testing for Lung Cancer. Available.(Accessed October 2025).”
You can also read:
Lykke Hinsch Gylvin: I Am Passionate. I Care Deeply About What I Do
