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For years, those with bronchiectasis have waited for a breakthrough. With the recent FDA approval of Brinsupri (brensocatib)1, you may be wondering: Is this the medication for bronchiectasis that changes everything?
While the outlook is hopeful, there’s an important caveat: Brinsupri is only one piece of the puzzle. To truly protect the lungs, many pulmonologists believe you need to combine this new medication with a natural approach that addresses the physical side of the disease: Airway Clearance.
What Medication Is Used for Bronchiectasis
Medications for bronchiectasis are generally split up into two categories: prevention and rescue, usually if you’ve had a flare-up. Let’s look at what specific medications are used in each category:
Preventative Daily Maintenance. These are used even when you feel well to keep the lungs clear and prevent bacteria from building up.
- Mucolytics. Inhaled daily to keep your mucus thin and moving so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for germs.
- Maintenance Antibiotics. Low-dose or inhaled antibiotics are used long-term to help keep chronic bacterial levels low.
- Bronchodilators. Used before airway clearance exercises to open the tubes for maximum mucus removal.
- Rescue. These are usually used when you notice an increase in cough, a change in mucus color, or shortness of breath.
- Targeted Antibiotics. Stronger, short-term doses (often 10–14 days) specifically selected to kill the bacteria causing the current flare-up.
But that doesn’t mean those are the only bronchiectasis medications out there.
What is the New Medication for Bronchiectasis?
If you’ve been searching for what medication is used for bronchiectasis, you’ve likely seen the name Brinsupri.
Unlike antibiotics that kill bacteria or bronchodilators that open airways, Brinsupri is a first-of-its-class DPP1 inhibitor. It targets the vicious vortex of bronchiectasis by inhibiting the enzymes in white blood cells that cause chronic inflammation and permanent lung damage.
In clinical trials, it reduced the frequency of flare-ups (exacerbations).2 This is huge news! But even the most advanced pill can’t do one thing: It cannot physically move mucus out of your lungs, which is an important part of preventing future infections.
What’s the Difference: Vest Therapy vs DPP1 Inhibitors.
The Gap in Pharmaceutical Treatment
If you have bronchiectasis, you know that inflammation and mucus buildup in the lungs can lead to infections. Brinsupri may help manage inflammation, but the mucus remains a physical roadblock.
If that mucus sits in your lungs, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. This is where a natural treatment approach comes in.
A Comprehensive Approach to Bronchiectasis
When we talk about natural therapy in the context of bronchiectasis, we aren’t just referring to supplements such as Vitamin D.3 Airway Clearance Therapy naturally helps your body do what it can no longer do on its own: cough up mucus.
The SmartVest Airway Clearance System uses High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) to gently oscillate the chest. These vibrations loosen and thin mucus, propelling it toward your larger airways so you can cough it up and out.
By pairing this new medication for bronchiectasis with SmartVest, you are targeting two important aspects:
- Chemical. Brinsupri works to reduce the enzymes that cause inflammation.
- Mechanical. SmartVest works to physically clear the mucus left behind by inflammation.
The SmartVest Advantage: In independent studies, patients using SmartVest experienced a 57% reduction in antibiotic use and a 59% reduction in hospitalizations.4
The Future of Bronchiectasis: What You Can Expect
The future of bronchiectasis care isn’t just a pill; it’s a lifestyle. To get the most out of new treatments for bronchiectasis, consider talking to your doctor about the Triple Down strategy:
- Active Airway Clearance. Use your SmartVest two times a day to help keep your lungs clear of mucus that medication can’t reach.
- Natural Foundations. Support your treatment with proper hydration (to thin mucus naturally) and doctor-approved supplements, such as Vitamin D, to boost your immune response. Always follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recommendations.
- Targeted Medication. Talk to your pulmonologist about whether Brinsupri is right for you.
Prioritize Your Quality of Life
Managing bronchiectasis is about breaking the cycle before it impacts your quality of life. See how SmartVest can work alongside your current or future medication plan – we can help.
Request an informational packet to learn more about how SmartVest works and if it’s the right fit for you!
Resources
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2025). Drug Trials Snapshots: BRINSUPRI.
Brinsupri. Brinsupri Study Results.
SmartVest (2026). New Treatments for Bronchiectasis
Sievert C et al. Respiratory Therapy, Vol. 11 No 4, 34-38, 2016.
