The tragic suicide of Kenney Blewett in June 2026 highlights the severe consequences of insurance prior authorization delays for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) medications. While patients face complex insurance hurdles, medical researchers are exploring new treatment pathways. A phase I trial of ARO-RAGE, an inhaled small interfering RNA therapy targeting the RAGE receptor, demonstrated safety in 58 healthy volunteers and 19 asthma patients, offering a potential new mechanism to manage pulmonary inflammation.
Targeted therapies for refractory chronic cough
- ▪The neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist orvepitant is a targeted therapy under development for refractory chronic cough.
- ▪The purinergic 2X3 receptor antagonists gefapixant, BLU-5937, and sivopixant (S-600918) are targeted therapies under development for refractory chronic cough.
Economic burden of chronic cough
- ▪Chronic cough is associated with substantial direct and indirect costs, including increased healthcare utilization, medication costs, and decreased work productivity.
- ▪A prospective study at King's College Hospital estimated the mean total cough-related healthcare cost per participant was £645.73 GBP ($832.35 USD) 12 months before and £1017.12 GBP ($1357.75 USD) 12 months after a specialist visit.
Kenney Blewett's medication delay
- ▪Kenney Blewett, a lung disease patient in Kyle, Texas, died by suicide in June 2026 following a multi-day delay in receiving a newly prescribed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medication.
- ▪Kenney Blewett's pulmonologist prescribed a new chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medication on June 2, 2026, which Walgreens delayed due to an insurance issue.
Development of ARO-RAGE therapy
- ▪The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is expressed in lung alveolar type 1 cells and amplifies the innate immune response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
- ▪The phase I trial of ARO-RAGE demonstrated that the inhaled therapy was safe and well tolerated in 58 healthy volunteers and 19 patients with asthma.
- ▪A phase I trial evaluated ARO-RAGE, an inhaled, targeted, small interfering RNA therapy that targets the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in pulmonary inflammation.
Medicare artificial intelligence pilot
- ▪The Medicare artificial intelligence pilot program does not currently impose prior authorization requirements on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medications.
- ▪In January 2026, Medicare launched a pilot program in six states, including Texas, testing the use of artificial intelligence to preapprove some healthcare services.
Debatable claims
- ▪Statins do not provide a meaningful health benefit for adults over 70 without cardiovascular disease
- ▪Standardized electronic health records are necessary to improve primary care coordination
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