A randomised, phase III trial of once-daily fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 100/25 μg versus once-daily vilanterol 25 μg to evaluate the contribution on lung function of fluticasone furoate in the combination in patients with COPD

BackgroundThe contribution of fluticasone furoate (FF) on lung function in the FF/vilanterol (VI) 100/25 μg combination has been demonstrated numerically, but not statistically.MethodsThis multicentre, randomised, double-blind, controlled trial (GlaxoSmithKline study number 200820; clinicaltrials.gov NCT02105974) enrolled ≥40-year-old patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a ≥10-pack-year smoking history, a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 30-70% of the predicted value, a FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio of ≤0.70, ≥1 COPD exacerbation in the previous 12 months requiring corticosteroids, antibiotics and/or hospitalisation, and current COPD symptoms. Participants received FF/VI 100/25 μg or VI 25 μg once daily. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in trough FEV1 at day 84.Findings1620 patients were randomised and received at least one dose of FF/VI 100/25 μg (n = 806) or VI 25 μg (n = 814). At day 84, the FF/VI 100/25 μg group showed an adjusted mean treatment difference of 34 mL over VI 25 μg in change from baseline trough FEV1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 14-55; p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in the percentage of rescue medication-free 24-h periods. The FF/VI 100/25 μg group demonstrated a 42% risk reduction compared with the VI 25 μg group in time to first moderate/severe COPD exacerbation (95% CI 22-57; nominal p < 0.001). The incidence of on-treatment adverse events was similar between the groups.InterpretationThe contribution of FF in the FF/VI 100/25 μg combination on lung function in COPD was statistically significant.FundingGlaxoSmithKline.