Phase III trial of Stiolto Respimat (olodaterol + tiotropium) shows combination treatment benefits COPD- Boehringer

Boehringer announced the first results from the Phase IIIb/IV PHYSACTO trial that showed Stiolto Respimat (olodaterol + tiotropium) combined with exercise training, helps people with COPD walk for longer periods of time compared to those receiving placebo. All participants of the trial were also enrolled in a self-management behavior modification program, which provided health education and skills to help better manage COPD. In the PHYSACTO trial, exercise capacity was measured by the length of time people with COPD could walk in an Endurance Shuttle Walking Test, which measures how far someone can walk at a standard speed without stopping for a rest.

After 8 weeks, in the tiotropium + olodaterol Respimat combined with exercise training arm, exercise capacity in people with moderate-to-severe COPD significantly increased by 45.8 percent, compared to those receiving placebo with no exercise training (356 vs. 244 seconds respectively). Furthermore, tiotropium+olodaterol Respimat was shown to reduce shortness of breath (also known as dyspnea) associated with physical activity, compared to placebo. Additional PHYSACTO results showed that even without exercise training, there was a significant improvement in exercise capacity in the tiotropium+olodaterol RESPIMAT arm (29.2 percent increase in shuttle walk duration), compared to placebo (315 vs. 244 seconds respectively). These data were presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2016 in London.

Comment: This new study is the first to demonstrate that a holistic approach to COPD management, which includes behavior modification enriched with exercise training and effective long acting bronchodilator therapy, can improve exercise capacity and reduce shortness of breath.