Tim Overend

Efficacy and safety of NVA237 versus placebo and tiotropium in patients with COPD: the GLOW2 study

NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) is a once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) in development for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The GLycopyrronium bromide in COPD airWays clinical Study 2 (GLOW2) evaluated the efficacy and safety of NVA237 in moderate-to-severe COPD over 52 weeks. Patients were randomised 2:1:1 to NVA237 50 μg, placebo or open-label tiotropium 18 μg for 52 weeks. Primary end-point was trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) at 12 weeks. 1,066 patients were randomised, 810 completed the study. At week 12, trough FEV1 increased significantly by 97 mL with NVA237 (95% CI 64.6–130.2; p<0.001) and 83 mL with tiotropium (95% CI 45.6–121.4; p<0.001). Compared with placebo, NVA237 produced significant improvements in dyspnoea (Transition Dyspnoea Index at week 26; p=0.002) and health status (St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire at week 52; p<0.001). NVA237 significantly reduced the risk of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations by 34% (p=0.001) and the use of rescue medication (p=0.039), versus placebo. NVA237-placebo and tiotropium-placebo differences were comparable for all outcomes. Safety profiles were similar across groups. NVA237 50 μg provided significant improvements in lung function, dyspnoea, health status, exacerbations and rescue medication use, versus placebo, and was comparable to tiotropium. NVA237 can potentially be an alternative choice of LAMA for COPD patients.

Efficacy and safety of once-daily NVA237 in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD: the GLOW1 trial

BackgroundNVA237 is a once-daily dry-powder formulation of the long-acting muscarinic antagonist glycopyrronium bromide in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The glycopyrronium bromide in COPD airways clinical study 1 (GLOW1) evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of NVA237 in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.MethodsPatients with COPD with a smoking history of ≥ 10 pack-years, post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) < 80% and ≥ 30% predicted normal and FEV1/forced vital capacity < 0.70 were enrolled. Patients were randomized to double-blind treatment with NVA237 50 μg once daily or placebo for 26 weeks with inhaled/intranasal corticosteroids or H1 antagonists permitted in patients stabilized on them prior to study entry. The primary outcome measure was trough FEV1 at Week 12.ResultsA total of 822 patients were randomized to NVA237 (n = 552) or placebo (n = 270). Least squares mean (± standard error) trough FEV1 at Week 12 was significantly higher in patients receiving NVA237 (1.408 ± 0.0105 L), versus placebo (1.301 ± 0.0137 L; treatment difference 108 ± 14.8 mL, p < 0.001). Significant improvements in trough FEV1 were apparent at the end of Day 1 and sustained through Week 26. FEV1 was significantly improved in the NVA237 group versus placebo throughout the 24-hour periods on Day 1 and at Weeks 12 and 26, and at all other visits and timepoints. Transition dyspnoea index focal scores and St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire scores were significantly improved with NVA237 versus placebo at Week 26, with treatment differences of 1.04 (p < 0.001) and-2.81 (p = 0.004), respectively. NVA237 significantly reduced the risk of first moderate/severe COPD exacerbation by 31% (p = 0.023) and use of rescue medication by 0.46 puffs per day (p = 0.005), versus placebo. NVA237 was well tolerated and had an acceptable safety profile, with a low frequency of cardiac and typical antimuscarinic adverse effects.ConclusionsOnce-daily NVA237 was safe and well tolerated and provided rapid, sustained improvements in lung function, improvements in dyspnoea, and health-related quality of life, and reduced the risk of exacerbations and the use of rescue medication.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01005901

QVA149 demonstrates superior bronchodilation compared with indacaterol or placebo in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background This randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, four-period crossover study assessed the efficacy and safety of once-daily QVA149, a dual bronchodilator consisting of the long-acting β2-agonist indacaterol and the long-acting muscarinic antagonist glycopyrronium (NVA237), in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Patients (N=154) were randomly assigned to receive QVA149 (indacaterol/NVA237) 300/50 μg, indacaterol 300 μg, indacaterol 600 μg, or placebo, once daily for 7 days with a 7-day washout period between each treatment. The primary endpoint was trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (mean of 23 h 15 min and 23 h 45 min post-dose values) on day 7. Other endpoints included trough FEV1 on day 1, individual time point FEV1 and monitoring and recording of all adverse events. Results A total of 135 (87.7%) patients completed the study (all randomly assigned patients: mean age 61.7 years, 61.4% male, post-bronchodilator FEV1 52.2% predicted, FEV1/forced vital capacity 47.6%). The estimated treatment difference (95% CI) for trough FEV1 on day 7 between QVA149 and placebo was 226 ml (192 to 260; p<0.001). The estimated treatment difference between QVA149 and indacaterol 300 and 600 μg was 123 ml (89 to 157; p<0.001) and 117 ml (83 to 150; p<0.001), respectively. The improvements in mean trough FEV1 exceeded the predefined minimal clinically important differences of 100–140 ml for QVA149 versus placebo and indacaterol. Similar results were observed on day 1. All treatments were well tolerated. Conclusions QVA149 demonstrated rapid and sustained bronchodilation with significant improvements compared with indacaterol monotherapy and placebo in patients with COPD. Clinical trial registration NCT00570778.

Sustained 24-h efficacy of NVA237, a once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist, in COPD patients.

NVA237 is a once-daily inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist in development for the treatment of COPD. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-period, incomplete block crossover study, with open-label active comparator (tiotropium), assessed the efficacy and safety of NVA237. Patients (>or=40 years; smoking history >or=10 pack-years) with stable moderate-to-severe COPD (post-bronchodilator FEV(1) >or= 30% and <80% predicted, FEV(1)/FVC < 0.7) received NVA237 12.5, 25, 50 or 100 microg, placebo, or tiotropium 18 microg once-daily for 7 days. The primary endpoint was mean trough (23-24 h post-dose) FEV(1) on Day 7. Secondary endpoints included mean trough FEV(1) on Day 1, and FEV(1) and FVC at individual time points post-dose on Days 1 and 7. 83 patients (mean age 64.4 years; male 83.1%; mean COPD duration 6.7 years; mean post-bronchodilator FEV(1) 1.5 L/52.7% predicted) were randomized; 78 completed. Mean trough FEV(1) on Day 7 and Day 1 was significantly higher with all active treatments versus placebo (p < 0.05). NVA237 50 microg, 100 microg and tiotropium showed clinically relevant improvements versus placebo on Day 7 (differences of 131, 142 and 127 mL, respectively; p < 0.0001) and 1 (differences of 121, 135 and 112 mL, respectively; p < 0.0001). On Day 1, but not Day 7, FEV(1) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) with NVA237 50 and 100 microg versus tiotropium from 5 min up to 2 and 4 h post-dose, respectively. All doses of NVA237 and tiotropium were well tolerated. NVA237 once-daily was effective and well tolerated versus placebo, and demonstrated rapid and sustained 24-h bronchodilation. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00501852).

Effects of formoterol and salmeterol on resting inspiratory capacity in COPD patients with poor FEV1 reversibility

SUMMARY Background: Recent studies suggest that inspiratory capacity (IC) measured at rest can be used to predict improvements in dyspnea and exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. In this study we compared the effect of formoterol (Foradil* Aerolizer*) and salmeterol (Sereventt Diskust) in terms of IC in patients with COPD. Methods: This was a multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-dose, double-dummy, crossover study conducted in five secondary care centres in four European countries. A total of 47 patients with Stage II and III COPD, as defined by ATS criteria, with an increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of <12% from the patients predicted normal value after salbutamol inhalation were included. Patients inhaled single doses of formoterol (12 and 24 ng), salmeterol (50 and 100 jug) or matching placebo. IC was recorded before dosing and at 5,10,15 and 30min and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h post-dose. Results: Formoterol was significantly superior to salmeterol during the first hour post-dose as indicated by notable differences at all times during the first hour post-dose and by the ANCOVA analysis of the Area Under the IC Curve (AUCMh). Conclusions: Both formoterol and salmeterol increase IC in patients with COPD, with formoterol 12|ig showing a significantly greater increase in IC over the first hour post-dose than salmeterol 50|ig, consistent with a more rapid onset of action.

Once daily glycopyrronium for the treatment of COPD: pooled analysis of the GLOW1 and GLOW2 studies

Abstract Background: Glycopyrronium is a once daily (o.d.) long-acting muscarinic antagonist that is approved for maintenance treatment of COPD. This post-hoc pooled analysis of two phase III studies, GLycopyrronium bromide in COPD airWays 1 and 2 (GLOW1 and GLOW2), evaluated the effects of glycopyrronium compared with placebo and tiotropium over 26–52 weeks in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. Methods: Patients aged ≥40 years were randomised to 26 weeks’ treatment with glycopyrronium 50 μg o.d. or placebo (GLOW1) or 52 weeks’ treatment with glycopyrronium 50 μg o.d., placebo, or open-label tiotropium 18 μg o.d. (GLOW2). The primary efficacy endpoint in both studies was trough forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at Week 12. Other outcomes included additional spirometry endpoints, moderate or severe exacerbations, dyspnoea, health status, rescue medication use and safety. Serial spirometry over 24 hours was conducted in a subset of patients. Results: Of 1888 subjects randomised, 98.2% were analysed (glycopyrronium 1059, tiotropium 267, placebo 528). Least squares mean (LSM) trough FEV1 was significantly higher with glycopyrronium versus placebo at Week 12 (treatment difference ± standard error [SE]: 103 ± 11.2 mL; p < 0.001), as well as at Day 1 and Weeks 26 and 52. More patients achieved ≥100 mL increase in trough FEV1 from baseline with glycopyrronium versus placebo at all assessments (p < 0.001). Glycopyrronium significantly improved FEV1 immediately after the first dose on Day 1 versus placebo (90 mL at 5 minutes, 144 mL at 15 minutes; both p < 0.001) and versus tiotropium (43 mL at 5 minutes, 65 mL at 15 minutes; both p < 0.001). Glycopyrronium significantly improved other spirometry endpoints and provided clinically meaningful 24 hour bronchodilation versus placebo at most timepoints from Day 1 onwards (p < 0.05). Time to first moderate or severe exacerbation was significantly prolonged with glycopyrronium versus placebo over 26 and 52 weeks (36% and 33%, respectively; both p < 0.001). Glycopyrronium provided significantly greater relief of dyspnoea, improved health status and reduced rescue medication use versus placebo. Glycopyrronium was safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: Glycopyrronium 50 μg o.d. provided early bronchodilation after the first dose that was sustained for 24 hours, and reduced the risk of exacerbations compared with placebo, with efficacy at least equivalent to tiotropium. Trial Registrations: NCT01005901 and NCT00929110.

A novel model-based approach for dose determination of glycopyrronium bromide in COPD

BackgroundGlycopyrronium bromide (NVA237) is an inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist in development for treatment of COPD. This study compared the efficacy and safety of once-daily (OD) and twice-daily (BID) glycopyrronium bromide regimens, using a novel model-based approach, in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.MethodsDouble-blind, randomized, dose-finding trial with an eight-treatment, two-period, balanced incomplete block design. Patients (smoking history ≥10 pack-years, post-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥30% and <80% predicted, FEV1/FVC <0.7) were randomized to one of 16 independent sequences for 28 days. Primary endpoint: mean trough FEV1 at Day 28.Results385 patients (mean age 61.2 years; mean post-bronchodilator FEV1 53% predicted) were randomized; 88.6% completed. All OD and BID dosing regimens produced dose-dependent bronchodilation; at Day 28, increases in mean trough FEV1 versus placebo were statistically significant for all regimens, ranging from 51 mL (glycopyrronium bromide 12.5 μg OD) to 160 mL (glycopyrronium bromide 50 μg BID). Pharmacodynamic steady-state was reached by Day 7. There was a small separation (≤37 mL) between BID and OD dose–response curves for mean trough FEV1 at steady-state in favour of BID dosing. Over 24 hours, separation between OD and BID regimens was even smaller (FEV1 AUC0-24h maximum difference for equivalent daily dose regimens: 8 mL). Dose–response results for FEV1 at 12 hours, FEV1 AUC0-12h and FEV1 AUC0-4h at steady-state showed OD regimens provided greater improvement over placebo than BID regimens for total daily doses of 25 μg, 50 μg and 100 μg, while the reverse was true for OD versus BID regimens from 12–24 hours. The 12.5 μg BID dose produced a marginally higher improvement in trough FEV1 versus placebo than 50 μg OD, however, the response at 12 hours over placebo was suboptimal (74 mL). Glycopyrronium bromide was safe and well tolerated at all doses.ConclusionsGlycopyrronium bromide 50 μg OD provides significant bronchodilation over a 24 hour period, and in terms of FEV1 AUC0-24h is not significantly different than the same total daily dose administered BID. Importantly, OD dosing may confer better patient adherence. The results are consistent with previous glycopyrronium bromide studies and support once-daily dosing of glycopyrronium bromide 50 μg in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01119950

FEV1 reversibility does not adequately predict effect of formoterol via Aerolizer® in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Evaluation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often includes the use of post‐bronchodilator reversibility testing to guide treatment decisions. Recommendations for reversibility testing differ and there is no universally accepted method or outcome criterion.

P252 Once-daily NVA237 improves symptoms, and reduces COPD exacerbations and associated hospitalisations: the GLOW1 trial

Introduction Symptoms profoundly impact daily life of COPD patients. We assessed the influence of the once-daily (qd) long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) on symptoms and exacerbations in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. Methods Patients were randomised (2:1) to 26 weeks double-blind treatment with NVA237 50 μg qd or placebo (PBO) via a single-dose dry powder inhaler (Breezhaler® device). Efficacy was assessed by bronchodilation (trough FEV1 at Week 12), breathlessness on the transition dyspnoea index (TDI), HRQoL via the St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and rescue medication use. The effect on COPD exacerbations and related hospitalisations was also assessed. Results 822 patients were randomised; 80.5% completed. NVA237 significantly increased total TDI focal score vs PBO at Week 26 (difference 1.04, 95% CI 0.583 to 1.504; p<0.0001); exceeding the minimum clinically important difference ([MCID] =1 point). Significantly more patients achieved MCID in TDI score with NVA237 (61.3% vs 48.3%; OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.249 to 2.415; p=0.001). SGRQ total score was significantly reduced with NVA237 (−2.81; p=0.004); % of patients achieving a clinically meaningful improvement in SGRQ (=4 point reduction) was significantly higher with NVA237 (56.8% vs 46.3%; OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.138 to 2.196; p=0.006). NVA237 significantly reduced rescue medication use at Week 26 (−0.46 puffs/day, p=0.005). NVA237 significantly prolonged time to first moderate/severe COPD exacerbation by 31% (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.949; p=0.023) and time to first severe COPD exacerbation necessitating hospitalisation (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.141 to 0.857; p=0.022). NVA237 significantly reduced hospitalisations due to COPD exacerbation (OR 0.34; p=0.024). Conclusion Once-daily NVA237 provided significant improvements in dyspnoea and SGRQ total score, with lower rescue medication use, and reduced risk of exacerbation and associated hospitalisations vs PBO.

P253 NVA237 once daily offers rapid and clinically meaningful bronchodilation in COPD patients that is maintained for 24 h: the GLOW1 trial

Introduction NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) is an inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) in development for the once-daily (qd) treatment of COPD. The GLOW1 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of NVA237 in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. Methods Patients were randomised (2:1) to 26 weeks double-blind treatment with NVA237 50 μg qd or placebo (PBO). Study drugs were administered via a single-dose dry powder inhaler (Breezhaler® device). Primary efficacy endpoint: trough FEV1 (mean of 23 h 15 min and 23 h 45 min post-dose values) vs PBO after 12 weeks. Results 822 patients were randomised; mean age was 63.9 years, mean post-bronchodilator FEV1 was 55% predicted. 80.5% completed the study. At Week 12 there was a statistically significant and clinically relevant difference between NVA237 vs PBO in mean trough FEV1 (108 ml; p<0.001). Trough FEV1 was also significantly higher at Day 1 and Week 26 (treatment difference: 105 ml and 113 ml, respectively; p<0.001). Serial spirometry in a subpopulation of patients showed statistically superior (p<0.001) and clinically meaningful improvements in FEV1 with NVA237 vs PBO at all timepoints on Day 1, Week 12 and Week 26. NVA237 had a rapid onset of action with an increased FEV1 of 93 ml at 5 min and 144 ml at 15 min vs PBO after the first dose on Day 1 (p<0.001). Overall, the incidence of adverse events (AEs) was similar between treatment groups (NVA237: 57.5%; PBO: 65.2%). Serious AEs were reported by 7.5% of NVA237- vs 9.0% of PBO-treated patients. Conclusion NVA237 50 μg once daily was generally safe and well tolerated. Improvements in bronchodilation were rapid, clinically meaningful and maintained for 24 h throughout the study.