Boehringer Ingelheim yesterday touted results from a Phase III trial showing that its Stiolto Respimat, a drug-device combination helps people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease walk for longer periods of time while relieving some shortness of breath.
When participants with moderate to severe COPD took Stiolto Respimat, a combination of tiotropium bromide and olodaterol, along with exercise, their exercise capacity increased by 45.8% compared to those receiving a placebo. The Physacto trial is a part of the Tovito Phase III clinical trial, investigating the efficacy of Respimat as a maintenance therapy for COPD.
“It is vital for people with COPD to stay active as this may help slow the progression of disease burden and reduce its impact on health,” trial investigator Dr. Thierry Troosters, of Belgium’s University of Leuven, said in prepared remarks. “This new study is the first to demonstrate that a holistic approach to COPD management, which includes behavior modification enriched with exercise training and effective long-action bronchodilator therapy, can improve exercise capacity, reduce shortness of breath and difficulty associated with daily activities.”
The participants were randomly placed into 4 groups: Respimat with or without exercise, Respimat alone, or placebo. Investigators measured exercise capacity using a walking test, in which participants walked at a standard speed for as long as they could. Exercise capacity improved 29% when people took Respimat without exercising, compared to the placebo arm. All 4 groups underwent a 12-week program that provided them with exercise strategies, such as using a pedometer.
The data were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society in London. The results build on earlier studies done that show an improvement in exercise capacity associated with Respimat use.
Last week, Boehringer-Ingelheim announced a partnership with Qualcomm (NSDQ:QCOM) subsidiary Qualcomm Life to create an inhaler that can track user information, in an effort to help people with COPD adhere to their treatment regimen.
