Oscillometry in Respiratory Drug Development: Improving Translation from Preclinical Research to the Clinic

Lung Function: A Critical Endpoint in Respiratory Drug Development

Lung function is one of the most important efficacy endpoints throughout respiratory drug development. From animal models to human clinical trials, pulmonary function measurements help researchers evaluate disease progression, characterize therapeutic responses, and determine whether a treatment provides meaningful physiological benefit.

Because these measurements often serve as primary efficacy endpoints, the methods used to assess lung function can have a significant impact on the success of a development program.

Recent translational research has highlighted the importance of aligning lung function assessment between preclinical and clinical studies to improve the predictability of respiratory drug development and bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and patient outcomes.¹

Oscillometry: A Translational Lung Function Technique

Oscillometry, also known as the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT), provides a highly sensitive assessment of respiratory mechanics by measuring respiratory system impedance, including airway resistance, tissue damping, and lung elastance.

Unlike spirometry, which depends on patient effort and is the most common lung function test used clinically, oscillometry requires minimal subject cooperation and provides detailed information about both central and peripheral lung mechanics.

Importantly, oscillometry can be applied across multiple species. Studies have demonstrated remarkable similarities in respiratory input impedance among mammals despite differences in lung size and anatomy.²˒³ This makes oscillometry a valuable translational tool capable of measuring common physiological characteristics across preclinical models and human studies.

Why Oscillometry Matters in Preclinical Research

For decades, oscillometry has been the gold standard for measuring lung mechanics in preclinical respiratory research. The technique enables investigators to detect subtle physiological changes that may not be apparent using traditional pulmonary function measurements.

Integrated into the SCIREQ flexiVent™ system, oscillometry allows researchers to:

• Quantify airway resistance and lung compliance
• Differentiate airway and tissue mechanics
• Characterize respiratory disease models with high sensitivity
• Evaluate the efficacy of novel therapeutics
• Generate reproducible, highly standardized pulmonary function data

These capabilities have made flexiVent one of the most widely cited platforms for preclinical lung function assessment across asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), infectious disease, and inhalation toxicology research.

Bridging the Gap Between Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Historically, preclinical studies have relied heavily on oscillometry, while clinical trials have primarily used spirometry. Today, clinical oscillometry is gaining wider adoption as clinicians recognize its sensitivity for detecting early and peripheral airway dysfunction.

As oscillometry becomes increasingly accepted in both research and clinical settings, it offers a unique opportunity to improve methodological alignment throughout the drug development pipeline. Using comparable physiological endpoints across species may strengthen translational confidence and improve the ability to predict clinical efficacy.

Advancing Respiratory Drug Discovery with Oscillometry

As respiratory therapies become increasingly targeted and disease models more sophisticated, sensitive physiological measurements are more important than ever. Oscillometry provides researchers with detailed, reproducible insights into lung mechanics that support better decision-making throughout the drug development process.

By incorporating standardized oscillometry using the flexiVent™, researchers can generate high-quality lung function data that helps accelerate the development of safer, more effective respiratory therapeutics.

If you’re developing the next generation of respiratory therapies, discover how flexiVent can provide the physiological endpoints needed to advance your research with confidence.