Long-term Safety of Aclidinium Bromide/formoterol Fumarate Fixed-dose Combination: Results of a Randomized 1-year Trial in Patients with COPD

Trial Design: This was a one-year, Phase III randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-control study investigating the long-term safety and tolerability of twice-daily aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg versus formoterol 12 μg.

Methods: Eligible patients were male or female, current or ex-smokers (history of ≥10 pack-years) aged ≥40 years with a diagnosis of moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio <70%, and post-bronchodilator FEV1≥30% and <80% predicted. Patients were randomized 2:1 to twice-daily aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg or formoterol 12 μg, administered via a multidose dry powder inhaler (Genuair™/Pressair(®))(1). The objective was to evaluate the one-year safety of aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg versus formoterol 12 μg.

Results: All 590 patients were included in the safety population; 392 patients received aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg and 198 patients received formoterol 12 μg. Of these, 581 patients were included in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population (385 patients received aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg; 196 patients received formoterol 12 μg). In the safety population, the percentage of patients with ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse event was similar between aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg (71.4%) and formoterol 12 μg (65.7%). Mean baseline post-bronchodilator FEV1 was 51.3% of predicted (ITT population). Aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg significantly improved morning pre-dose (trough) FEV1 and trough FVC versus formoterol 12 μg at each assessment, with improvements at Week 1 (least squares mean difference [LSMD]: 87.4 mL and 157.8 mL, respectively) maintained at study end (LSMD: 81.5 mL and 185.4 mL, respectively).

Conclusions: Aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg was well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to formoterol 12 μg and consistent with that seen in two Phase III studies. Additionally, aclidinium 400 μg/formoterol 12 μg improved lung function versus formoterol 12 μg, with a sustained effect over one year.