Boehringer Ingelheim has presented data from the ANHELTO 1&2 studies (NCT01694771/NCT01696058) that evaluated the co-administration of Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) (T) plus Striverdi Respimat (olodaterol) Inhalation Spray (O) inhaler in patients with COPD.

At Week 12, patients receiving T+O showed significant improvements in lung function, as measured by trough forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and FEV1 area under the curve from 0-3 hours (FEV1AUC0-3h), compared to patients receiving tiotropium + placebo (T+P).

SPIRIVA HandiHaler is a once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) indicated for both the maintenance treatment of bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways) associated with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and to reduce COPD exacerbations.

STRIVERDI RESPIMAT is a once-daily long-acting beta agonist (LABA) indicated for the long-term maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. STRIVERDI RESPIMAT is not indicated to treat acute deteriorations of COPD and is not indicated to treat asthma. SPIRIVA HandiHaler delivers the medication as a powder and STRIVERDI RESPIMAT delivers olodaterol as a slow-moving mist.

ANHELTO 1&2 were 12-week, replicate, double-blind studies in which COPD patients were randomized to receive tiotropium 18 ?g once daily (via HandiHaler) + olodaterol 5 ?g once daily (via Respimat) or tiotropium 18 ?g once daily (via HandiHaler) + placebo (via Respimat). The ANHELTO studies included more than 2,200 patients with COPD. The primary efficacy endpoints were change from baseline in trough FEV1 and FEV1AUC0-3 after 12 weeks.

“Doctors frequently use multiple products for maintenance treatment of COPD,” said lead study author Richard ZuWallack, MD, associate chief, Pulmonary Medicine, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT. “Dual bronchodilation has the potential to improve lung function more effectively in people living with COPD than treatment with a single bronchodilator.”