Publications by authors named "Kathleen Rickard"
Article Synopsis
- Exacerbations in COPD are serious events that can worsen lung function and impair quality of life, highlighting the need for effective medication to manage them.
- Ensifentrine is a new drug that works as a dual inhibitor to reduce inflammation and open airways, and the study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing COPD exacerbation rates.
- The analysis from two phase 3 trials involving nearly 1,000 patients showed that ensifentrine significantly reduced both the frequency and risk of severe COPD exacerbations compared to a placebo across various patient subgroups.
Article Synopsis
- Dyspnea is a key concern in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the study evaluated the effects of a drug called ensifentrine on this issue using data from Phase 3 trials.
- In the trials, ensifentrine was tested on 975 patients with COPD, showing significant improvements in dyspnea scores and reduced use of rescue medication after 24 weeks compared to 574 patients on a placebo.
- The study concluded that ensifentrine effectively alleviated dyspnea for moderate-to-severe COPD patients, although it did not include those already on certain combination therapies.
Ensifentrine as a Novel, Inhaled Treatment for Patients with COPD.
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
August 2023
Article Synopsis
- Ensifentrine is a unique inhaled treatment that inhibits PDE3 and PDE4, helping with airway inflammation, bronchodilation, and ciliary function.
- In Phase 2 studies for COPD patients, it showed significant improvements in lung function, symptoms, and overall health quality, either alone or with other treatments.
- Currently, ensifentrine is in advanced clinical trials aimed at maintaining treatment for COPD patients, with this review focusing on its non-clinical and Phase 1 and 2 data on effectiveness and safety.
Article Synopsis
- Ensifentrine is a new medication that inhibits two enzymes linked to lung function, providing benefits such as bronchodilation and reduced inflammation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Two large trials (ENHANCE-1 and ENHANCE-2) showed that ensifentrine significantly improved lung function and reduced symptoms and exacerbation rates compared to a placebo, but results varied between the two trials.
- The studies involved nearly 1,600 patients with moderate to severe COPD, and ensifentrine was well-tolerated, with adverse events being similar to those experienced by patients on placebo.
Article Synopsis
- Ensifentrine is an inhaled medication that inhibits enzymes linked to inflammation and has been found to improve lung function in COPD patients when used alongside tiotropium over a 4-week period.
- A clinical study involved 416 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, showing that ensifentrine significantly enhanced lung function, measured by peak forced expiratory volume (FEV1), in a dose-dependent manner compared to placebo.
- The study also observed meaningful improvements in health-related quality of life, as measured by the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, with no notable difference in adverse events between the ensifentrine and placebo groups.
Article Synopsis
- Ensifentrine is an innovative inhaled treatment that targets dual phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and 4, showing significant improvements in respiratory symptoms for COPD patients during a four-week clinical trial.
- The study involved COPD patients aged 40-75, measuring improvements in respiratory symptoms using multiple standardized questionnaires over the trial period, with results indicating all doses of ensifentrine performed better than a placebo.
- The findings highlight that patients experienced notable early improvements in breathlessness and overall respiratory symptoms, particularly at higher doses of ensifentrine compared to placebo.
: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a valuable tool for assessing Th2 inflammation in children with asthma. Exhalation times of 6 and 10 s meet the current recommendations for assessing FeNO. The 6-s exhalation provides an alternative for 7-10 year olds not able to complete the 10-s exhalation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCharacterization of airway inflammation in patients with COPD using fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels: a pilot study.
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
February 2015
Objective: To characterize fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels that may be indicative of Th2-mediated airway inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Methods: This single-visit, outpatient study was conducted in 200 patients aged 40 years and older with COPD. All patients underwent spirometry and FeNO testing.
Background: The choice of treatment can have a major impact on the total costs associated with asthma care.
Objective: To determine the relative cost-effectiveness of twice-daily treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate-salmeterol via Diskus, 100/50 microg, with that of once-daily treatment with oral montelukast as initial maintenance therapy in patients with persistent asthma uncontrolled with a short-acting beta2-agonist alone.
Methods: Data from a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, 12-week clinical trial were analyzed.
Background: Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective class of anti-inflammatory agents and are recommended for patients with persistent asthma.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of (1) fluticasone propionate, 100 microg, and salmeterol, 50 microg; (2) fluticasone propionate, 100 microg; and (3) montelukast, 10 mg, as first-line maintenance treatment for persistent asthma.
Methods: Combined analysis of 4 clinical trials, 2 that compared fluticasone propionate-salmeterol with montelukast and 2 that compared fluticasone propionate with montelukast as initial asthma therapy.
Background: Asthma is a chronic disease, the two main components of which are inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol, a strategy that treats both main components of asthma, has been recently compared with FP plus montelukast in a randomised clinical trial. The present study reports economic evaluation of these two strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group safety and efficacy studies included evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis effects of concurrent treatment with intranasal and orally inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP). In the first study, patients with asthma who were > or =12 years of age were assigned randomly to receive twice-daily doses (either 88 or 220 microg) of orally inhaled FP delivered from a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). In the second study, patients were assigned randomly to receive either orally inhaled FP 250 microg or orally inhaled FP 250 microg/salmeterol 50 microg delivered via the Diskus device.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntranasal corticosteroids have been shown to decrease ocular symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis as well as nasal symptoms. The primary objective of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of fluticasone propionate (FP) aqueous nasal spray in the treatment of ocular symptoms in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). We pooled efficacy data from seven multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of similar design.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Few published clinical trials document the efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids used as needed for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 4 weeks' treatment with fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray 200 microg used as needed (FP200PRN) in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 241 patients (> or = 12 years of age) with a positive skin test result to a relevant fall allergen and who were symptomatic at randomization.
Objective: Fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FP) at the highest recommended doses does not affect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in adults or older children, but its potential effects in children younger than 4 years have not been previously studied. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of FP on HPA axis function measured by 12-hour urinary-free cortisol levels in children 2 to 3 years of age.
Methods: Patients ages 2 to 3 years with symptoms of allergic rhinitis were administered FP 200 microg/day (FP200 QD) or vehicle placebo for 6 weeks.
Background: The safety and efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids for the treatment of allergic rhinitis is well documented in the literature. Additionally, an expert panel has concluded that intranasal corticosteroids are the first line of therapy when obstruction is a major component of rhinitis. Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist recently approved for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (at a maximum recommended dose of 200 micrograms each day) administered daily for one year was conducted to evaluate its potential effects on growth, measured by stadiometry, in prepubescent children with perennial allergic rhinitis (n = 150; age 3.5 to 9.0 years).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Studies have shown fluticasone propionate (FP) 100, 200, and 500 microg administered once daily to be effective in the treatment of asthma. The efficacy of a once daily regimen of FP 250 microg has not been evaluated previously.
Objective: We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled FP 250 microg administered once daily in patients currently receiving inhaled short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) alone or inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
Objective: To compare the relative cost effectiveness of salmeterol (50 microg)/ fluticasone propionate (100 microg) with that of oral montelukast (10mg) as initial maintenance therapy in patients with persistent asthma uncontrolled on short-acting beta2-agonist therapy alone.
Study Design: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed based on effectiveness and resource utilisation data that was prospectively collected from a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, 12-week trial.
Patients And Methods: Patients (>15 years of age) who had asthma for at least 6 months.
To compare the efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate and zafirlukast in patients with relatively stable persistent asthma who were previously treated with inhaled corticosteroids and short-acting beta(2)-agonists.A total of 440 patients (> or =12 years of age) previously treated with inhaled corticosteroids (beclomethasone dipropionate or triamcinolone acetonide) and short-acting beta(2)-agonists were included in this randomized double-blind study. After an 8-day run-in period, patients were treated with fluticasone (88 microg) or zafirlukast (20 mg) twice daily for 6 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To compare the long-term effects of an inhaled corticosteroid with those of a leukotriene modifier on measures of clinical efficacy, subject preference, and safety in patients with persistent asthma.
Patients And Methods: Between November 17, 1998, and May 26, 2000, we conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study of patients aged 15 years or older with persistent asthma. The patients were symptomatic while taking short-acting beta2-agonists alone and were treated with fluticasone propionate (88 microg [2 puffs of 44 microg] twice daily) or montelukast (10 mg/d) for 24 weeks.