Asthma: Spiriva Respimat Improved Breathing Regardless of BMI, Allergic Status

Adding Spiriva Respimat improved breathing for patients who experience uncontrolled asthma symptoms despite the use of another daily maintenance therapy in the Phase III clinical development program, according to Boehringer Ingelheim data presented at ATS 2017. Spiriva Respimat, 1.25 mcg, is a long-term, once-daily, prescription maintenance treatment of asthma for people 6 years and older. SPIRIVA RESPIMAT is not a treatment for sudden asthma symptoms.

Two new analyses show the therapy improved lung function in children and adolescents with moderate to severe asthma, regardless of their allergic status.

In the post hoc analyses of several Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled studies in pediatric and adolescent patients with moderate to severe asthma, adding Spiriva Respimat improved peak FEV₁(0-3h) and trough FEV₁ across a range of baseline immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and eosinophil counts, compared to placebo. Adding Spiriva Respimat also reduced the risk of exacerbations compared to placebo, in pediatric and adolescent patients, regardless of baseline IgE levels and blood eosinophil counts.

A separate subgroup analysis showed that adding Spiriva Respimat was effective at reducing symptoms and improving lung function in adults with mild to severe asthma in all BMI categories, including those who were overweight or obese, a population that often experiences symptoms that are harder to control. The data showed that adding Spiriva Respimat improved peak FEV₁(0-3h) and trough FEV₁ in adult patients with mild to severe asthma compared to placebo, regardless of their BMI.

“Asthma affects many types of people, and everyone has their own allergic status and body mass index ranking. This research shows that Spiriva Respimat may be an effective treatment option – with a well characterized safety profile – for diverse patient populations who may still be experiencing uncontrolled asthma symptoms,” said Mark Vandewalker, MD, director, Clinical Research of the Ozarks, Columbia, Missouri. “As an asthma specialist, I am encouraged to see further evidence suggesting that adding Spiriva Respimat helped to control symptoms in many kinds of asthmatics who were already taking an ICS or ICS/LABA combination.”