title: β(2) -adrenoceptor agonists: current and future direction.
abstract: Despite the passionate debate over the use of β(2) -adrenoceptor agonists in the treatment of airway disorders, these agents are still central in the symptomatic management of asthma and COPD. A variety of β(2) -adrenoceptor agonists with long half-lives, also called ultra long-acting β(2) -adrenoceptor agonists (ultra-LABAs; indacaterol, olodaterol, vilanterol, carmoterol, LAS100977 and PF-610355) are currently under development with the hopes of achieving once-daily dosing. It is likely that the once-daily dosing of a bronchodilator would be a significant convenience and probably a compliance-enhancing advantage, leading to improved overall clinical outcomes. As combination therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a LABA is important for treating patients suffering from asthma, and a combination with an inhaled long-acting antimuscarinic agent (LAMA) is important for treating COPD patients whose conditions are not sufficiently controlled by monotherapy with a β(2) -adrenoceptor agonist, some novel once-daily combinations of LABAs and ICSs or LAMAs are under development.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Respiratory Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Italy. mario.cazzola@uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzola
authors.forename: Luigino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calzetta
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Matera
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists