title: Efficacy of a fixed combination of ciclesonide and formoterol: the EXCITED-study.
abstract: Recommended treatment for moderate to severe asthma is the combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-agonist. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed fixed combination of ciclesonide and formoterol in comparison to the marketed fixed combination of fluticasone and salmeterol in patients with moderate asthma. This was a phase II, multi-centre, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, double-dummy study. After a 2-week run-in period, 160 patients with moderate asthma were randomized to a 6-week treatment with ciclesonide/formoterol 320/9 μg bid (CIC/F) or fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250/50 μg bid (FP/S), both delivered as powder formulations. The primary outcome FEV1 increased during treatment by 0.356 L in the CIC/F group and by 0.288 L in the FP/S group (p < 0.0001). The increases were statistically significant and clinically relevant. The between-treatment analysis demonstrated non-inferiority of CIC/F to FP/S treatment (p < 0.0001). A significant improvement from baseline in lung function, symptom score and rescue medication use was observed in both groups at all time points. No differences were observed between treatments in the frequency of adverse events and overnight urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio. The studied fixed combination of ciclesonide/formoterol is not inferior to the marketed fixed combination of fluticasone/salmeterol in terms of efficacy and tolerability.
authors: Pulmonary Department, Mainz University Hospital, Langenbeckstr. 1, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. Stephanie.Korn@unimedizin-mainz.de
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Korn
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Buhl
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011282:Pregnenediones; D000420:Albuterol; C120481:ciclesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate