Tiotropium improved asthma symptoms in phase 3 trials

New data from phase 3 trials showed that the addition of investigational tiotropium delivered via Respimat inhaler in adult patients with mild, moderate and severe asthma who continue to experience symptoms despite the use of maintenance therapies, improved lung function. 

Boehringer Ingelheim recently presented the new data on investigational tiotropium delivered via Respimat inhaler at the 2015 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas.

Tiotropium is being studied as a once-daily, add-on treatment in asthma patients who continue to experience symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough, despite the use of maintenance therapy including inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), with or without long-acting beta agonists (LABAs).

“A significant number of asthma patients continue to experience symptoms despite treatment with available therapies and it is important to understand how a patient’s allergic status might impact their response to treatment,” said Kevin Murphy, MD, of Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. “These data showed that the addition of tiotropium delivered via Respimat inhaler improved lung function in adults with asthma across a range of severities independent of underlying allergic status.”

Dr McBryanDespite current treatment options, approximately 40% of patients with asthma remain symptomatic.

"Additionally, patients with asthma may respond differently to treatment based on their allergic status, therefore it is important to investigate new therapies in both allergic and non-allergic patients,” Danny McBryan, MD, vice president of clinical development and medical affairs – respiratory with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, told FormularyWatch.

Related:Tiotropium for asthma: appears to be effective adjunct in phase 3 studies

The studies included in the analyses were double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trials in adult patients with mild, moderate and severe asthma. A total of 3,480 patients were randomly assigned for the 5 trials to receive tiotropium 5 μg, 2.5 μg or placebo once daily in addition to ICS with or without LABA.

“For physicians and patients, these data are important, as it adds to our understanding of the safety and efficacy of adding tiotropium to maintenance therapies in patients who remain symptomatic despite available asthma treatments,” Dr McBryan said.

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