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news.A ground-breaking study has demonstrated that GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Relvar Ellipta is better than the usual care in reducing exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Headline results from the 2,802-patient Salford Lung Study (SLS) in COPD showed that the inhaled therapy achieved a superior reduction in exacerbations versus usual care – which included long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA), long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA), and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) administered as monotherapy, dual or triple combinations.
For patients those who took Relvar Ellipta (fluticasone/vilanterol, FF/VI 100/25mcg) there was a statistically significant reduction of 8.41% in the rate of moderate or severe exacerbations compared with those receiving usual care.
The incidence of serious adverse events was similar, 29% for FF/VI and 27% for usual care.
For pneumonia, an SAE of special interest, the rates include 7% for FF/VI and 6% for usual care.
GSK SVP and head of global respiratory franchise Eric Dube said: "The Salford Lung Study COPD results support the effectiveness of Relvar. As we move beyond the headline results, we will learn so much more about the medicine and disease management.
"We believe the results could transform understanding of how patients in everyday clinical practice respond to COPD treatments."
A second SLS is currently being carried out in asthma patients, with results anticipated in 2017.
COPD is a disease of the lungs that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema or both. It is characterized by obstruction to airflow that interferes with normal breathing.