Spotlight on glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate inhalation aerosol in the management of COPD: design, development, and place in therapy

Abstract

Long-acting bronchodilators are the mainstay of the treatment of COPD. With the advent of several combination inhalers with long-acting antimuscarinic agents (LAMAs) and long-acting beta agonists (LABAs), the choice of therapy in the treatment of COPD has been ever expanding. With the focus of COPD management shifting from FEV₁-based treatment escalation to symptoms and risk-based treatment, we are seeing a paradigm shift in COPD treatment with early introduction of LAMA–LABA combination as a single inhaler. Glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate fixed-dose combination formulated in a familiar metered-dose inhaler format using proprietary co-suspension technology is a new option on the market. We purport to discuss the evidence behind the approval of the drug combination and its place in therapy.

Keywords:

• exacerbations
• long-acting antimuscarinic agent
• long-acting beta agonist
• inhaled corticosteroids
• formoterol fumarate
• glycopyrronium
• adverse events
• metered-dose inhaler

Acknowledgments

Dr Criner reports grants from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Novartis, Astra Zeneca, Respironics, MedImmune, Actelion, Forest, Pearl, Ikaria, Aeris, PneumRx, and Pulmonx and consultation fees from Amirall, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Holaira. Dr Dhungana reports grants from Oncocyte.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.