A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, long-term extension study of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of fixed-dose combinations of aclidinium/formoterol or monotherapy in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

- A 52-week Phase III extension for aclidinium/formoterol treatment in COPD patients.
- Frequency of adverse events was low and comparable across treatment groups.
- Serious adverse events and major adverse cardiovascular events were low.
- Improvements in bronchodilation and dyspnoea were maintained over 52 weeks.
- Long-term safety and efficacy of aclidinium/formoterol 400/12 μg are demonstrated.

IntroductionAclidinium bromide/formoterol fumarate (AB/FF) 400/12 μg efficacy and safety was demonstrated in two 6-month Phase III studies (AUGMENT and ACLIFORM) and a 12-month study in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-month AUGMENT extension investigated the long-term safety and tolerability of AB/FF 400/12 μg (NCT01572792).MethodsPatients were randomised in AUGMENT (1:1:1:1:1) to twice-daily AB/FF 400/12 μg, AB/FF 400/6 μg, AB 400 μg, FF 12 μg or placebo. Patients completing AUGMENT were invited to continue the same treatment in the extension. Adverse events (AEs), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), laboratory tests, electrocardiograms and vital signs were recorded. Efficacy was assessed.ResultsOf 1322 patients completing AUGMENT, 921 enrolled and 780 completed the extension. AE incidence was low and comparable across treatment groups; most common were nasopharyngitis (range 4.8%-9.3%), urinary tract infection (range 4.1%-8.8%) and upper respiratory tract infection (range 2.7%-5.5%). Serious AEs (SAEs) and MACE were low (ranges 6.8%-7.7% and 0.5%-1.5%, respectively). Significant improvements in bronchodilation and dyspnoea were maintained over 52 weeks versus placebo. Trends towards improvements in other symptoms and health status were observed versus placebo and monotherapies. AB/FF combinations increased the time to first exacerbation by approximately 30% versus placebo (p < 0.05).ConclusionAB/FF 400/12 μg was well tolerated over 52 weeks with low incidences of AEs, SAEs and MACE that were comparable across treatment groups. Improvements in bronchodilation, symptoms and health status were maintained across 52 weeks.