Boehringer Ingelheim reports positive COPD drug trial data

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced positive new clinical data showing the benefits of its tiotropium/olodaterol combination therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Results from the pivotal phase III TONADO studies have been presented by the company at the European Respiratory Society international congress, showing the new treatment's efficacy among more than 5,000 patients over 52 weeks.

When administered as a fixed-dose combination via the Respimat inhaler, the therapy was able to meet its primary efficacy endpoints in terms of delivering lung function and quality of life improvements.

Tiotropium is the active ingredient of Spiriva, the most prescribed COPD maintenance treatment worldwide, while olodaterol is marketed under the brand name Striverdi Respimat and acts as a preferred combination partner for the older product.

Klaus Rabe, professor of pulmonary medicine at the University of Kiel, said: "The level of improvement shown in quality of life scores could, for example, help patients do everyday activities more easily, such as getting washed and dressed, going shopping or walking upstairs."

This comes after Spiriva Respimat has been accepted by European regulators in a new indication as an add-on maintenance bronchodilator treatment in adult patients with asthma.