At the 2026 American Thoracic Society (ATS) international conference, Insmed’s presence featured a strong focus on Brinsupri (brensocatib), the first-to-market therapy for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) and first-in-class dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP1) inhibitor targeting neutrophilic inflammation. Insmed’s ATS presence was wide and coordinated; it included poster sessions pertaining to Brinsupri and its impact on patient-reported respiratory symptoms in NCFB, survey results highlighting NCFB disease burden, a well-engaged industry theatre session focused on the new therapy, and significant on-ground presence. Combined with Insmed’s recent support of a landmark ATS initiative, the company’s ongoing efforts will continue to strengthen Brinsupri’s clinical profile and drive its adoption as it navigates the NCFB treatment landscape as the first-to-market therapy following its FDA approval in August 2025.
Among the set of data releases at ATS 2026 for NCFB was a poster presentation on 18 May, related to post-hoc analysis of patient-reported symptoms from the Phase III ASPEN trial (NCT04594369) that evaluated the efficacy of brensocatib in patients with NCFB. The analysis, which included only adult patients, revealed that both 10mg and 25mg doses of brensocatib led to numerical improvements in respiratory symptoms versus placebo; improvements were seen in mean observed overall Quality of Life-Bronchiectasis Respiratory Symptoms Score (QOL-B RSS) at baseline and at 52 weeks (10mg dose: 59.8 versus 67.9, 25mg dose: 61.9 versus 70.3, placebo: 60.0 versus 66.3). Additionally, when considering QOL-B RSS by on-study pulmonary exacerbation (PEx) status that considered three groups, including no PEx, any PEx, or severe PEx (defined as requiring IV antibacterial drug treatment and/or hospitalisation), improvements in symptoms were seen with both 10mg and 25mg doses of brensocatib versus placebo, with the difference most prominent in the 25mg group, further highlighting the efficacy of this therapy.
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Insmed also drew attention to the burden of bronchiectasis with a poster presentation related to survey results examining this topic among patients and caregivers across the US and Europe. The results of the study, which included 1,050 patients and 88 caregivers, showed that 76.8% of patients (n=652) reported a decline in health status following exacerbation, highlighting the negative impact on emotional well-being and social life. Of particular importance was the fact that among patients who were not experiencing exacerbations, there was anxiety about the potential onset of future exacerbations. With regulatory bodies increasingly focusing on improving patient-reported outcomes and quality of life, the presentation of the above survey results helps to advocate for better patient care pathways and healthcare resource allocation. Additionally, an industry theatre session on 19 May, helped further build NCFB awareness, reinforced Brinsupri’s clinical profile in NCFB, and served as a platform for pulmonologists in the audience to discuss real-world clinical experiences with the therapy. Since Brinsupri’s approval, Insmed has been at the forefront of NCFB, supporting programs to increase disease awareness and to improve clinical outcomes in this disease space. In April 2026, the ATS announced an initiative, with research grant support from Insmed, to improve the diagnosis of this disease across the US; the project will involve analysis of electronic health records from seven academic health systems over a 36-month period to identify patients with bronchiectasis who may have been misdiagnosed. In May 2026, the company also announced the launch of an educational initiative, “Suspect Bronchiectasis (Suspect BE)”, that aims to raise awareness of the disease and encourages people with consistent respiratory symptoms, such as cough, excess mucus, and recurrent lung infections, to seek proper diagnosis.
Finally, on the ground at ATS 2026, Brinsupri featured prominently both within the exhibition area and in the vicinity around the conference venue. Insmed’s booth had multiple interactive screens that were centred on raising awareness of the disease, and providing finer information related to Brinsupri’s approval in NCFB, and spotlighting patient journeys. Handouts additionally highlighted information related to the “InLighten” patient support program. Additional information booths around the wider conference area highlighted Brinsupri’s role in the treatment of NCFB.
With its FDA approval and more recent European and UK approvals in November 2025 and in February 2026, respectively, Brinsupri represents the first non-antibiotic, anti-inflammatory treatment option that offers a more targeted action for NCFB and allows a potential shift away from the use of off-label antibiotics in this disease space. As the first-to-market DPP-1 inhibitor in the respiratory field, Brinsupri is on course to become the standard of care in bronchiectasis treatment.
According to Insmed’s recent earnings call on 7 May, the therapy’s global sales trajectory continues to rise, with $207.9m net sales revenue recorded in Q1 2026, and reinforcing full-year revenue guidance of at least $1bn. However, the call also highlighted that the commercial launch of Brinsupri outside the US market has hit a block, with Insmed delaying launch in Europe, citing a lack of clarity on the US government’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing policy. While an update on launch in this region will be closely watched and subject to Insmed having more clarity on pricing, Brinsupri is still on track to achieve first-to-market position in Europe, with no other late-stage NCFB pipeline asset poised for imminent launch. And when the European launch materialises, it is expected to be well received, underpinned by Brinsupri’s strong clinical profile, the disease awareness groundwork laid to date, and the prescriber confidence Insmed has been systematically building through initiatives such as those showcased at ATS 2026.
