Umeclidinium for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract

Umeclidinium is a novel inhaled long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist (LAMA) approved for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It provides a bronchodilation of at least 24 h, is well tolerated and has a safe profile. In this article, we describe its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. Moreover, we present a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials carried out in COPD patients, in which the change of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) induced by umeclidinium has been compared with that elicited by placebo or the active compound tiotropium. The data generated by the pivotal trials indicate that umeclidinium bromide delivered once-daily via the Ellipta™ inhaler is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for COPD. Therefore, it could to be used as an alternative to LAMAs already in the market, although substantial information is still lacking. It is likely that in the future, umeclidinium will be used frequently, mainly in combination with vilanterol, which is a new once-daily long-acting β2-agonist (LABA).

• Authors: Andrea Segreti, Luigino Calzetta, Paola Rogliani, Mario Cazzola
• Journal: Expert review of respiratory medicine (Expert Rev Respir Med) Vol. 8 Issue 6 Pg. 665-71 (Dec 2014) ISSN: 1747-6356 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25312239 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Bronchodilator Agents
• GSK573719
• Muscarinic Antagonists
• Quinuclidines

Topics

• Bronchodilator Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Forced Expiratory Volume (drug effects)
• Humans
• Muscarinic Antagonists (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Quinuclidines (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome