Improvements in lung function with umeclidinium/vilanterol versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD and infrequent exacerbations

Background: Umeclidinium (UMEC; long-acting muscarinic antagonist [LAMA])/vilanterol (VI; long-acting beta2-agonist [LABA]) and fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/SAL) (inhaled corticosteroid/LABA) are approved maintenance therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Two studies compared efficacy and safety of UMEC/VI with FP/SAL in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD with no exacerbations in the previous year.

Methods: In these 12-week, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, double-dummy trials, randomized (1:1) patients received once-daily UMEC/VI 62.5/25 mcg or twice-daily FP/SAL 250/50 mcg (DB2114930 n = 353 and 353; DB2114951 n = 349 and 348, respectively; intent-to-treat). Endpoints included 0-24 h weighted mean (wm) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (Day 84; primary), trough FEV1 (Day 85; secondary), other lung function endpoints, dyspnea, quality of life (QoL) and safety.

Results: UMEC/VI demonstrated statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvements in lung function measures versus FP/SAL. For 0-24 h wmFEV1 (Day 84), improvements with UMEC/VI versus FP/SAL were 74 mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38-110; DB2114930) and 101 mL (63-139; DB2114951) (both p < 0.001). Trough FEV1 improvements were 82 mL (45-119) and 98 mL (59-137) (both p < 0.001) for UMEC/VI versus FP/SAL, respectively. Both treatments demonstrated similar, clinically meaningful improvements from baseline in dyspnea (Transition Dyspnea Index focal score >1 unit) and QoL (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire Total score >4-unit decrease) in both studies with no statistical differences between treatments. Adverse event rates were similar: 26 and 30% UMEC/VI; 27 and 31% FP/SAL.

Conclusions: Once-daily UMEC/VI 62.5/25 mcg over 12 weeks resulted in statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvements in lung function versus twice-daily FP/SAL 250/50 mcg in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD with infrequent exacerbations. Both treatments improved dyspnea and QoL.

Clinical trial registration: DB2114930/NCT01817764; DB2114951/NCT01879410.