Targeting the Small Airways with Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long-Acting Beta Agonist Dry Powder Inhalers: A Functional Respiratory Imaging Study.

Peripheral deposition of inhaled medication is important as small airway disease has a key role in asthma. In this study, we compared the lung deposition at different mean flow rates of three inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) combinations delivered by dry powder inhaler (DPI), that is, Foster NEXThaler (extrafine formulation of beclomethasone/formoterol), Relvar Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/vilanterol trifenatate), and Symbicort Turbohaler (budesonide/formoterol). drug delivery parameters were applied to lung computerized tomography (CT) scans of 20 asthma patients by functional respiratory imaging (FRI).

Exploring quality of life and satisfaction with treatment in asthmatic patients receiving dry powder inhalers: a multinational survey.

Introduction: The quality of life (QoL) and device needs have not been characterized in asthmatic patients treated via dry powder inhalers (DPIs). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of asthma on health-related QoL, device satisfaction, and preference in adult asthmatic patients using DPI devices, and to identify any DPI-associated unmet needs.

Methods: An online survey was conducted between November and December 2019 on eligible patients from the Cint consumer panel across Europe.

Inspiratory flow profile and usability of the NEXThaler, a multidose dry powder inhaler, in asthma and COPD.

Background: Inhaler selection is important when managing respiratory conditions; a patient's inhalation technique should be appropriate for the selected device, and patients should ideally be able to use a device successfully regardless of disease severity. The NEXThaler is a multidose dry-powder inhaler with a breath-actuated mechanism (BAM) and dose counter that activates only following inhalation, so effectively an 'inhalation counter'. We assessed inspiratory flow through the NEXThaler in two studies and examined whether inhalation triggered the BAM.

Determinants and impact of suboptimal asthma control in Europe: The INTERNATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT ON ASTHMA CONTROL (LIAISON) study.

Background: According to the Global Initiative of Asthma, the aim of asthma treatment is to gain and maintain control. In the INTERNATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT ON ASTHMA CONTROL (LIAISON) study, we evaluated the level of asthma control and quality of life (QoL), as well as their determinants and impact in a population consulting specialist settings.

Methods: LIAISON is a prospective, multicentre, observational study with a cross-sectional and a 12-month longitudinal phase.

Extrafine beclomethasone/formoterol compared to fluticasone/salmeterol combination therapy in COPD.

Background: The study evaluated the efficacy of beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate (BDP/FF) extrafine combination versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/S) combination in COPD patients.

Methods: The trial was a 12-week multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double dummy study; 419 patients with moderate/severe COPD were randomised to BDP/FF 200/12 μg or FP/S 500/50 μg twice daily. The primary objective was to demonstrate the equivalence between treatments in terms of Transition Dyspnoea Index (TDI) score and the superiority of BDP/FF in terms of change from pre-dose in the first 30 minutes in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1).

Stepping-across controlled asthmatic patients to extrafine beclometasone/formoterol combination.

Background: Asthma management focuses on achieving and maintaining asthma control. Few studies have assessed whether complete and sustained asthma control is maintained in clinical practice after stepping-across ICS/LABA fixed combinations. Aim of this double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, parallel group, controlled study was to demonstrate clinical equivalence between equipotent doses of extrafine beclometasone/formoterol (BDP/F) pMDI and fluticasone/salmeterol (FP/S) Diskus® in maintaining lung function and asthma control.

Single and multiple ascending dose studies of a novel tissue-selective oestrogen receptor modulator, CHF 4227, in healthy postmenopausal women.

Aims: We evaluated the tolerability, adverse events profile, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CHF 4227, a new selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), in healthy postmenopausal women.

Methods: Two phase I studies were conducted according to a double-bind, placebo-controlled design. Subjects were randomized to receive six single (5-400 mg) or five multiple oral doses of CHF 4227 for 28 days (5-100 mg).