title: Indacaterol: a new long-acting β2-agonist in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchodilators represent the mainstay of symptomatic treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The principal bronchodilator agents are β(2)-agonists, anticholinergics and methylxanthines, used singly or in combination. Indacaterol is a novel long-acting β(2)-agonist for maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD, approved in December 2009 by the European Medicines Association, and recently by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is administered once daily and is delivered by means of a single-dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI). In Europe, the recommended dose is 150 μg and the maximum dose is 300 μg, while in the US the recommended dose is 75 μg. Indacaterol shows evidence of a rapid onset of bronchodilation, and its bronchodilatory duration is sustained.
  
  
  METHODS
  Numerous clinical studies have assessed the therapeutic effects of indacaterol in various physiologic parameters, as well as symptoms, disease progression, exacerbation rates, quality of life, safety and tolerability. This review summarises published evidence regarding the efficacy, tolerability and safety of indacaterol in regard to lung function and symptoms of COPD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indacaterol, the novel once-daily β(2)-agonist, has rapid and sustained bronchodilatory effect, showing excellent efficacy, tolerability and safety, as shown by all clinical trials so far.
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Pulmonology, Alexandroupolis, Greece. pstirop@med.duth.gr
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steiropoulos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nena
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouros
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017277:Drug Approval / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D007189:Indans; D015363:Quinolones; C510790:indacaterol