New dual combination aclidinium bromide and formoterol in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Abstract
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been increasing steadily over recent years, with an annual accrual of approximately 15,000 patients attending regular follow-ups in pneumology workplaces. Basis of therapy (in addition to elimination of risk factors) is prescription of bronchodilator drugs.
After many uiescent years of using one anticholinergic drug and two long-acting β 2 -mimetics our medication armoury is being improved by their combinations as well. The inhaled corticosteroids favoured so far are increasingly being backgrounded.
The ""dual"" combinations we have known so far are soon going to be joined by a new combination connecting the advantages of the effective anticholinergic aclidinium bromide with those of the rapid-onset and well- -tested formoterol, Duaklir. The present overview article reports the results of AUGMENT study, a somewhat briefer summary of ACLIFORM, a similarly designed study plus some data from a pooled analysis of these studies, and also two communications from the annual conference of American Thoracic Society 2014.
It follows from the results of these studies and communications that the new combination is characterised by rapid onset of sufficiently strong effect, both in terms of FEV 1 as measured prior to and after administration of the dose of the drug and also in terms in dyspnoea relief. Another important factor is seen in the ability of the new dual combination to reduce the occurrence of nocturnal and early morning symptoms, to reduce consumption of rescue medication and improve quality of life.
Efficacy of the drugs has already been confirmed both in two fundamental 24-week studies and in their 52-week extensions. Next to good effect the studies have also shown favourable a safety profile of the drug, the ccurrence rate of mild undesirable effects being identical for all therapeutic modalities.