Diana Jarreta

Peak inspiratory flow through the Genuair® inhaler in patients with moderate or severe COPD

The Genuair inhaler is a new multidose dry powder inhaler for the delivery of aclidinium bromide - a novel, long-acting, muscarinic antagonist in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The primary aim of this study was to assess the inspiratory flow characteristics through Genuair in patients with moderate or severe COPD. Using a three-period cross-over design, 48 patients were randomised to inhale placebo powder through Genuair, HandiHaler A (slow, deep inhalation as per manufacturers instructions) or HandiHaler B (fast, forceful inhalation). Three measurements of peak inspiratory flow (PIF), 10min apart, were recorded for each method of administration. The highest and average PIFs for the three attempts (mean+/-standard deviation) generated through the Genuair inhaler were 97.7+/-15.7 and 92.0+/-15.4L/min, respectively. Furthermore, 97% of inhalations with the Genuair inhaler were successful (activation of trigger threshold mechanism) and optimal (PIF> or =45L/min). The highest and average PIFs generated through HandiHaler A and B were significantly lower than with the Genuair inhaler. In conclusion, patients with moderate or severe COPD were able to generate sufficient inspiratory airflow through the Genuair inhaler to reliably inhale the full dose and reset the inhaler.

A randomised, placebo- and active-controlled dose-finding study of aclidinium bromide administered twice a day in COPD patients.

This Phase IIb, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo- and active-comparator-controlled crossover study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01120093) assessed efficacy and safety of three doses of aclidinium bromide in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients were randomised to one of five treatment sequences each consisting of twice-daily (BID) aclidinium 100 μg, 200 μg, 400 μg (via Genuair®*), formoterol 12 μg (via Aerolizer®) and matched placebo for 7 days, with a 5- to 9-day washout period. Primary endpoint was mean change from baseline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) normalised area under the curve (AUC)0-12 on Day 7. Secondary endpoints were: change from baseline in FEV1 normalised AUC12-24, FEV1 normalised AUC0-24 and morning pre-dose FEV1 on Day 7. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study. Of 79 randomised patients, 68 (86.1%) completed the study. After 7 days of treatment, aclidinium and formoterol produced statistically significantly greater changes from baseline in FEV1 normalised AUC0-12 vs placebo (p<0.0001). FEV1 normalised AUC12-24, FEV1 normalised AUC0-24, and morning pre-dose FEV1 were also statistically significantly greater with all aclidinium doses vs placebo (p<0.0001). Improvements in primary and secondary endpoints were statistically significantly greater with aclidinium 400 μg vs 100 μg. The safety profile of aclidinium was comparable to placebo. These results demonstrated that twice-daily aclidinium produced dose-dependent clinically meaningful improvements in FEV1 compared with placebo. This study also confirmed the use of an aclidinium BID dosing regimen and established aclidinium 200 μg and 400 μg as suitable doses for further investigation in Phase III trials.

ACTIVATE: the effect of aclidinium/formoterol on hyperinflation, exercise capacity, and physical activity in patients with COPD

The Phase IV, 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ACTIVATE study (NCT02424344) evaluated the effect of aclidinium/formoterol (AB/FF) 400/12 μg twice daily on lung hyperinflation, exercise capacity, and physical activity in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. Patients received AB/FF (n=134) or placebo (n=133) (1:1) via the Genuair™/Pressair® dry powder inhaler for 8 weeks. From Weeks 5 to 8, all patients participated in behavioral intervention (BI; daily messages providing step goals). The primary end point was trough functional residual capacity (FRC) at Week 4. Exercise endurance time and physical activity were assessed at Week 4 (pharmacotherapy only) and at Week 8 (8 weeks of pharmacotherapy plus 4 weeks of BI). Other end points included post-dose FRC, residual volume, and inspiratory capacity (IC) at rest and during exercise. After 4 weeks, trough FRC improved with AB/FF versus placebo but did not reach significance (125 mL; P=0.0690). However, post-dose FRC, residual volume, and IC at rest improved significantly with AB/FF at Week 4 versus placebo (all P<0.0001). AB/FF significantly improved exercise endurance time and IC at isotime versus placebo at Week 4 (P<0.01 and P<0.0001, respectively) and Week 8 (P<0.05 and P<0.0001, respectively). AB/FF achieved higher step counts (P<0.01) with fewer inactive patients (P<0.0001) at Week 4 versus placebo. Following BI, AB/FF maintained improvements in physical activity at Week 8 and nonsignificant improvements were observed with placebo. AB/FF 400/12 μg demonstrated improvements in lung hyperinflation, exercise capacity, and physical activity versus placebo that were maintained following the addition of BI. A 4-week period of BI might be too short to augment the improvements of physical activity observed with AB/FF.

Effect of aclidinium bromide on cough and sputum symptoms in moderate-to-severe COPD in three phase III trials

Background Cough and sputum are troublesome symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are associated with adverse outcomes. The efficacy of aclidinium bromide 400 µg twice daily in patients with stable COPD has been established in two phase III studies (ACCORD COPD I and ATTAIN) and a phase IIIb active-comparator study. This analysis evaluated cough-related symptoms across these studies. Method Patients were randomised to placebo, aclidinium 200 µg or 400 µg twice daily in ACCORD (12 weeks) and ATTAIN (24 weeks), or to placebo, aclidinium 400 µg twice daily or tiotropium 18 µg once daily (6-week active-comparator study). Analysed end points included changes from baseline in Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms (E-RS; formerly known as EXAcerbations of Chronic pulmonary disease Tool), total and cough/sputum scores and frequency/severity of morning and night-time cough and sputum symptoms. Results Data for 1792 patients were evaluated. E-RS cough/sputum domain scores were significantly reduced with aclidinium 400 µg versus placebo in ATTAIN (−0.7 vs −0.3, respectively; p<0.01) and the active-comparator study (−0.6 vs −0.2, respectively; p<0.01). In the active-comparator study, significantly greater improvements were observed with aclidinium versus placebo for severity of morning cough (−0.19 vs −0.02; p<0.01) and phlegm (−0.19 vs −0.02; p<0.05). In ACCORD, aclidinium reduced night-time cough frequency (−0.36 vs 0.1 for placebo; p<0.001) and severity (−0.24 vs −0.1 for placebo; p<0.05), and frequency of night-time sputum production (−0.37 vs 0.05 for placebo; p<0.001). Conclusions Aclidinium 400 µg twice daily improves cough and sputum expectoration versus placebo in stable COPD. Trial registration numbers NCT00891462; NCT01001494; NCT01462929.

Physical activity patterns and clusters in 1001 patients with COPD

We described physical activity measures and hourly patterns in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after stratification for generic and COPD-specific characteristics and, based on multiple physical activity measures, we identified clusters of patients. In total, 1001 patients with COPD (65% men; age, 67 years; forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1], 49% predicted) were studied cross-sectionally. Demographics, anthropometrics, lung function and clinical data were assessed. Daily physical activity measures and hourly patterns were analysed based on data from a multisensor armband. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were applied to physical activity measures to identify clusters. Age, body mass index (BMI), dyspnoea grade and ADO index (including age, dyspnoea and airflow obstruction) were associated with physical activity measures and hourly patterns. Five clusters were identified based on three PCA components, which accounted for 60% of variance of the data. Importantly, couch potatoes (i.e. the most inactive cluster) were characterised by higher BMI, lower FEV1, worse dyspnoea and higher ADO index compared to other clusters (p < 0.05 for all). Daily physical activity measures and hourly patterns are heterogeneous in COPD. Clusters of patients were identified solely based on physical activity data. These findings may be useful to develop interventions aiming to promote physical activity in COPD.

P256 Aclidinium bromide: a Phase IIb, dose-finding study

Introduction and Objectives Aclidinium bromide, a second-generation, long-acting muscarinic antagonist with low systemic activity, is in clinical development for the twice daily maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This Phase IIb study investigated the dose-response bronchodilation of aclidinium twice daily vs placebo and an active control (formoterol 12 μg twice daily) in patients with moderate to severe COPD. Methods In this double-blind, double-dummy, cross-over study, 79 patients received 7-day treatments of aclidinium 100 μg, 200 μg and 400 μg, formoterol 12 μg and placebo twice daily over five treatment periods separated by a 7-day washout. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in normalised forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) area under the curve (AUC)0–12 at Day 7. Other efficacy assessments included change from baseline at Day 7 in normalised FEV1 AUC0–24 and morning pre-dose (trough) and peak FEV1. Adverse events (AEs) were reported throughout the study. Results Aclidinium provided dose-dependent bronchodilation compared with placebo as assessed by change from baseline in normalised FEV1 AUC0–12 and FEV1 AUC0–24 at Day 7 (Abstract P256 table 1). The bronchodilation provided by aclidinium 400 μg during the first 12 h was comparable to the active control, formoterol 12 μg. Aclidinium improved morning pre-dose trough FEV1 and peak FEV1 after 7 days compared with placebo; the 400 μg dose was most comparable to formoterol 12 μg. Aclidinium was well tolerated; the safety profile of all doses was comparable to that of placebo.Abstract P256 Table 1 Adjusted mean (SE) change from baseline (L) on Day 7 Aclidinium 100 μg Aclidinium 200 μg Aclidinium 400 μg Formoterol 12 μg Placebo Normalised FEV1 AUC0–12h 0.128* (0.022) 0.151* (0.022) 0.183* (0.022) 0.185* (0.022) −0.026 (0.022) Normalised FEV1 AUC0–24h 0.089* (0.021) 0.100* (0.021) 0.133* (0.021) 0.163* (0.020) −0.062 (0.021) Morning pre-dose FEV1 0.081* (0.023) 0.089* (0.023) 0.130* (0.023) 0.123* (0.023) −0.025 (0.023) Morning peak FEV1 0.287* (0.023) 0.299* (0.023) 0.340* (0.023) 0.344* (0.023) 0.098 (0.023) *p<0.0001 vs placebo. Conclusion A dose-dependent bronchodilation was observed with aclidinium twice daily. The bronchodilation provided by the highest dose of aclidinium (400 μg) twice daily was comparable to formoterol 12 μg twice daily. The safety profile of aclidinium was similar to placebo, with no dose-dependent AEs observed.