Boehringer Ingelheim recently published new findings from two recent trials, the OTEMTO® 1&2 study and the ENERGITO® study, both of which showed that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had an increased quality of life after taking COPD therapy Spiolto® Respimat® when compared to taking Spiriva® Respimat® (tiotropium) or placebo. Spiolto® Respimat’s advantage was particularly noted at the start of therapy, when COPD patients first needed maintenance treatment for their disease.

In the ENERGITO®  study, it was revealed that patients had improved lung function when taking Spiolto®Respimat®, which is a combination of triotropium and olodaterol, when compared to LABA/ICS FDC, which contains steroids. Patients evaluated in this study all had at least moderate COPD symptoms.

At some point in their therapy, COPD patients have symptoms that last all day and require maintenance therapy to keep their airways open and inflammation reduced. Without treatment, COPD patients must deal with a reduction of activity and lifestyle changes due to breathlessness — something that adversely affects the emotional and physical characteristics of the COPD patient. However, if COPD patients receive well-matched treatment from the onset of these symptoms, they can better handle the disease state and remain active, thus improving the quality of their lives.

The two studies indicated that there were significant improvements when patients took Spiolto® Respimat® versus two other frequently used maintenance therapies, such as LABA/ICS FDC and Spiriva® Respimat®, according to Dr. Mezzanotte, the Head of Respiratory Medicine and Vice President of the company. “There is more evidence than ever,” says Dr. Mezzanotte, “that Spiolto® Respimat® should be used in patients that are just in the beginning stages of needing maintenance therapy for the respiratory condition.”

According to the OTEMTO® 1&2 studies, COPD patients showed a 4 point improvement in their quality of life when they took Spiolto® Respimat® over placebo.  The same participants had a 13 percent increase in quality of life when they took Spiolto® Respimat® when compared tot taking Spiriva® Respimat®.

In addition, information from the ENERGITO® study revealed that, when compared to patients who took the LABA/ICS treatment, which contains salmeterol and fluticazone proprionate, those who used Spiolto® Respimat® had 42 percent better numbers in the trough FEV1 endpoint, among other COPD endpoints.

Steroid therapy for COPD has the potential for serious side effects and is only recommended for severe COPD patients. Even so, this form of therapy is used on many different COPD patients, including those who have moderate disease. The ENERGITO® study added to the WISDOM study, which indicated that steroid therapies have more side effects than benefits in treating COPD patients.

Both the ENERGITO® and the OTEMPTO® 1&2 studies were part of the TOviTO® trial, which involved more than 15,000 participants with COPD. The studies also showed that the ingredients in the Spiriva® Respimat® were just as easily tolerated as are olodaterol when given alone.  At some point, Spiriva® Respimat® may be in regular use for patients needing first line maintenance therapy for their moderate to severe COPD symptoms.