title: Efficacy and safety of inhaled formoterol 4.5 and 9 μg twice daily in Japanese and European COPD patients: phase III study results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the long-acting β₂-agonist formoterol in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multinational phase III study randomized patients ≥ 40 years of age with moderate-to-severe COPD to inhaled formoterol 4.5 or 9 μg twice daily (bid) via Turbuhaler or placebo for 12 weeks. Salbutamol 100 μg/actuation via pMDI was permitted as reliever medication. The primary outcome variable was change (ratio) from baseline to treatment period in FEV1 60-min post-dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  613 patients received treatment (formoterol 4.5 μg n = 206; 9 μg n = 199; placebo n = 208); 539 (87.9%) male; 324 (52.9%) Japanese and 289 (47.1%) European. End of study increases in FEV1 60-min post-dose were significantly greater (p < 0.001 for both) with formoterol 4.5 and 9 μg bid (113% of baseline for both) than with placebo, as were all secondary outcome measures. The proportion of patients with an improvement in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire score of ≥ 4 was 50.2% for formoterol 4.5 μg (p = 0.0682 vs. placebo), 59.2% (p = 0.0004) for 9 μg, and 41.3% for placebo. Reduction in reliever medication use was significantly greater with formoterol vs. placebo (9 μg: -0.548, p < 0.001; 4.5 μg: -0.274, p = 0.027), with 9 μg being significantly superior to 4.5 μg (-0.274, p = 0.029). Formoterol was well tolerated with the incidence and type of adverse events not being different for the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Formoterol 4.5 μg and 9 μg bid was effective and well tolerated in patients with COPD; there was no difference between formoterol doses for the primary endpoint; however, an added value of formoterol 9 μg over 4.5 μg bid was observed for some secondary endpoints.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00628862 (ClinicalTrials.gov); D5122C00001 (AstraZeneca Study code).
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medic Or, Calea Vitan no 106, Postcode 031298, Bucharest, Romania. miron.a.bogdan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Miron A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bogdan
authors.forename: Hisamichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Yoshinosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
authors.forename: Michiaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichinose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013147:Spirometry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate
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