Roflumilast: an oral, once-daily selective PDE-4 inhibitor for the management of COPD and asthma.
BACKGROUND
Roflumilast is a selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor with a broad range of anti-inflammatory actions. Studies in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have demonstrated that it can improve lung function and reduce inflammation.


OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical data on roflumilast in COPD and asthma.


METHODS
A PubMed search using the term roflumilast was used to identify articles, and the bibliographies of the identified articles were reviewed to identify other relevant reports. All roflumilast abstracts from the 2006 and 2007 International Meetings of the American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society were also reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary studies of roflumilast in COPD and asthma have only shown modest clinical benefits and may be associated with gastrointestinal side effects. Further studies are required to clarify the role of roflumilast in the management of COPD and asthma.
Field
Stephen K
SK
Foothills Medical Centre and Tuberculosis Services, Calgary Health Region, Health Science Centre, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada. sfield@ucalgary.ca
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D001549:Benzamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology
D000631:Aminopyridines; D001549:Benzamides; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; C424423:Roflumilast