Boehringer Ingelheim commences new study of COPD therapy

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the commencement of a clinical study of a potential new means of reducing exacerbations among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

The first patient has been enrolled into the large-scale Dynagito study, which will assess the benefits of a fixed-dose combination of tiotropium plus olodaterol Respimat, compared to Spiriva Respimat, on reducing the risk of exacerbations and improving survival in COPD patients.

Over the course of 52 weeks, the study will involve 7,800 patients in 59 countries, with results expected in 2017. It comes as part of the wider TOviTO clinical trial programme, which consists of a total of 12 studies.

Lead study investigator Peter Calverley, professor of pulmonary and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Liverpool, said: "We look forward to further evaluating the effect of this potential new treatment on exacerbations in a dedicated exacerbation study."

The company filed for European regulatory approval of the new COPD therapy option last year, with data from the TOviTO study to support the application.