title: Beclomethasone/formoterol versus budesonide/formoterol combination therapy in asthma.
abstract: The present study was designed to compare the fixed combination of beclomethasone and formoterol in a hydrofluoroalkane Modulite (Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy) pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI), with a combination of budesonide and formoterol administered via a Turbuhaler (AstraZeneca, Lund, Sweden) dry powder inhaler (DPI). This was a phase III, multinational, multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, two-arm parallel groups, controlled study design. After a 2-week run-in period, 219 patients with moderate-to-severe asthma were randomised to a 12-week treatment with beclomethasone 200 microg plus formoterol 12 microg b.i.d. delivered via a pMDI or budesonide 400 microg plus formoterol 12 microg b.i.d. delivered via a DPI. The analysis of noninferiority on primary outcome, morning peak expiratory flow in the last 2 weeks of treatment, showed no difference between groups. A statistically significant improvement from baseline in lung function, symptoms and rescue medication use was observed in both groups at all time-points. No differences were observed between treatments in either rate of asthma exacerbations or frequency of adverse events. The new fixed combination of beclomethasone and formoterol in hydrofluoroalkane Modulite pressurised metered-dose inhaler is equivalent to the marketed combination of budesonide and formoterol in terms of efficacy and tolerability profile.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre on Asthma and COPD, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papi
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Paggiaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vignola
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fabbri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D001507:Beclomethasone; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate