Fluticasone furoate for the treatment of childhood asthma

Abstract

Inhaled corticosteroids offer substantial benefit in controlling symptoms for the vast majority of children with asthma. However, poor adherence to therapy is very common, especially among older children and adolescents as they transition to self-management of their disease. The introduction of once-daily inhaled fluticasone furoate, either alone or in combination with the long-acting β-agonist, vilanterol, simplifies chronic asthma therapy and may improve adherence and as a result, outcomes in this vulnerable population. Opportunities exist for additional study of this agent in younger children, particularly with regard to safety and growth suppression. This review provides an overview of the pharmacology, safety and efficacy data regarding use of fluticasone furoate in the treatment of childhood asthma.

Keywords:

• asthma
• efficacy
• fluticasone furoate
• pediatric
• pharmacodynamics
• pharmacokinetics
• safety

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Brown has received research support from GlaxoSmithKline, none of which involved studies of fluticasone furoate, and serves as a member of a data safety monitoring board overseeing a clinical trial for AstraZeneca. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Key issues

• Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood, accounting for more missed school days than any other chronic illness.

• Inhaled anti-inflammatory therapy is highly effective in controlling symptoms and improving lung function in the vast majority of children with asthma.

• Adherence to therapy is generally poor and limits the impact of this class of medications in reducing the morbidity and potential mortality associated with childhood asthma.

• Fluticasone furoate, effective in once-daily dosing, offers at least comparable benefit as current inhaled corticosteroids that require twice-daily dosing with similar adverse effects.

• Further studies examining potential age-specific differences in pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, safety and efficacy are needed in the pediatric (<12 years of age) population.