TY - JOUR T1 - Prospects for the development of effective pharmacotherapy targeted at the skeletal muscles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a translational review JF - Thorax JO - Thorax SP - 1102 LP - 1109 DO - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-201765 VL - 67 IS - 12 AU - Michael C Steiner AU - Ronenn Roubenoff AU - Ruth Tal-Singer AU - Michael I Polkey Y1 - 2012/12/01 UR - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/67/12/1102.abstract N2 - Skeletal muscle dysfunction is a prevalent and clinically important systemic manifestation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that predicts morbidity and mortality. Skeletal muscle retains its plasticity in response to anabolic stimuli such as exercise in COPD and is therefore a promising target for novel pharmacological therapies aimed at reducing disability and healthcare utilisation and improving mortality. In this article, we outline the steps the academic and pharmaceutical communities need to undertake for such therapeutic advances to be realised. ER -