Formoterol and beclomethasone dipropionate interact positively in antagonising bronchoconstriction and inflammation in the lung.

These studies were designed to assess the pharmacodynamic interaction between formoterol and beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) in controlling the bronchoconstriction and inflammatory response induced by various challenges in guinea-pigs and rats. In anaesthetised guinea-pigs, superfusion of the formoterol/BDP combination into the tracheal lumen had significantly more effect than the single components in antagonising the bronchoconstricting and inflammatory responses to acetylcholine or ovalbumin in a standard model of airway hyper-responsiveness. After ovalbumin challenge, the combination completely protected animals from death at doses lower than those effective when given separately.