The fixed-dose combination of tiotropium + olodaterol has a rapid onset of action in patients with COPD

Background: Tiotropium (T) is an established once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist that improves the main functional and patient-orientated outcomes of COPD. The long-acting β 2 -agonist olodaterol (O) has a rapid onset of action (5 mins post-dose) providing 24-h bronchodilation in patients with COPD. 1 The TONADO studies (NCT01431274; NCT01431287) investigated the efficacy and safety of the fixed-dose combination (FDC) of T and O over 1 year in moderate to very severe COPD. 2 This analysis determined the onset of bronchodilation after first administration. Methods: Two 52-week, double-blind, parallel-group studies were conducted. Patients were randomised to O 5 µg, T 2.5 or 5 µg, or T+O FDC 2.5/5 or 5/5 µg. We present the change in FEV 1 at 5 mins post-dose after the initial dose of study medication (combined data set). Results: 5162 patients were randomised and received treatment. FEV 1 was significantly increased from baseline at 5 mins post-dose with all treatments. FEV 1 responses were similar with the FDC and O 5 µg at 5 mins post-dose but were significantly greater than T 2.5 and 5 µg. Conclusion: T+O FDC results in a rapid improvement in lung function comparable to O 5 µg and significantly greater than T at 5 mins post-dose. References: Ferguson GT et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2014;9:629-45. Buhl R et al. Eur Respir J 2015;Jan 8 [Epub ahead of print]. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim.