Could Combination Tiotropium-Olodaterol Reduce COPD Exacerbations?

Based on new study findings, researchers say that combination therapy with tiotropium and olodaterol does not reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations as much as initially anticipated compared with tiotropium alone.

In a 52-week randomized study, the researchers screened 9009 patients with COPD and a history of exacerbations from 818 centers in 51 countries. Ultimately, 7880 of 9009 patients participated in the study.
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Patients were randomly assigned to receive once-daily 5 μg-5 μg tiotropium-olodaterol (n = 3939) or once-daily 5 μg tiotropium (n = 3941), and those who were using inhaled corticosteroids continued this therapy.

Findings revealed that, although the rate of moderate to severe exacerbations was lower with combination tiotropium-olodaterol vs tiotropium alone (rate ratio [RR] 0.93), the tiotropium-olodaterol combination did not meet the targeted 0.01 significance level.

A similar proportion of patients in each group reported adverse events associated with treatment.

“Combining tiotropium and olodaterol did not reduce exacerbation rate as much as expected compared with tiotropium alone,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Calverley PMA, Anzueto AR, Carter K, et al. Tiotropium and olodaterol in the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations (DYNAGITO): a double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, active-controlled trial [Published online March 28, 2018]. Lancet Respir Med. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30102-4.