Efficacy and safety of once-daily inhaled umeclidinium/vilanterol in Asian patients with COPD: Results from a randomized, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Background: Combination of the inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist umeclidinium (UMEC; GSK573719) with the long-acting β2-agonist vilanterol (VI) is an approved maintenance treatment for COPD in the US and EU. We compared the efficacy and safety of UMEC/VI with placebo in patients with COPD of Asian ancestry. Patients and methods: In this 24-week, Phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, patients were randomized 1:1:1 to UMEC/VI 125/25 μg, UMEC/VI 62.5/25 μg, or placebo. The primary efficacy end point was trough forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1) on day 169; secondary end points were Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) focal score at week 24 and weighted mean (WM) FEV1 over 0–6 hours postdose on day 1. Additional end points and safety were also assessed. Results: Both UMEC/VI 125/25 μg and UMEC/VI 62.5/25 mg statistically significantly improved trough FEV 1 at day 169 versus placebo (UMEC/VI 125/25 μg, 0.216 L, [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.175–0.257]; UMEC/VI 62.5/25 μg, 0.151 L, 95% CI 0.110–0.191; both P<0.001). Statistically significant improvements in TDI score were observed for both UMEC/VI groups versus placebo (UMEC/VI 125/25 μg, 0.9, 95% CI 0.3–1.4, P=0.002; UMEC/VI 62.5/25 μg, 0.7, 95% CI 0.1–1.2, P=0.016). On day 1, both UMEC/VI groups improved 0–6-hour WM FEV1 versus placebo (UMEC/VI 125/25 μg, 0.182 L 95% CI 0.161–0.203; UMEC/VI 62.5/25 μg, 0.160 L, 95% CI 0.139–0.181; both P<0.001). Statistically significant improvements for UMEC/VI groups versus placebo were observed for rescue albuterol use at weeks 1–24 (puffs/day, both P<0.001). The incidence of adverse events was similar across groups. Conclusion: In Asian patients with COPD, once-daily UMEC/VI 125/25 μg and UMEC 62.5/25 μg resulted in clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in lung-function end points versus placebo. Symptomatic and quality of life measures also improved. The safety profile of UMEC/VI was consistent with previous studies.