title: High-dose beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate in fixed-dose combination for the treatment of asthma.
abstract: The high-strength formulation of extrafine beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate (BDP/Form) 200/6 µg has been developed to step up inhaled corticosteroid treatment, without increasing the dose of the bronchodilator, in patients who are not controlled with previous therapies. Two clinical studies have evaluated efficacy of high-strength BDP/Form as compared with another high-dose fixed combination and BDP monotherapy. Overall, data show that BDP/Form 200/6 μg improves lung function and has beneficial effects on symptoms, use of rescue medication and asthma control, with an acceptable safety profile comparable with that of high-dose fluticasone propionate/salmeterol. Therefore, BDP/Form 200/6 μg could be considered as an effective and safe treatment for patients with asthma who are not adequately controlled with high doses of inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy or medium doses of inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist combinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43123 Parma, Italy massimo.corradi@unipr.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corradi
authors.affiliation: Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spinola
authors.affiliation: Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petruzzelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuna
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D001507:Beclomethasone; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate
keywords: asthma; beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate; high-dose fixed combination; inhaled corticosteroid; long-acting β2-agonist