Ultibro Breezhaler (indacaterol/glycopyrronium) shows benefits in COPD patients switching from other treatments- Novartis

Novartis has announced positive results from the first large-scale study exploring the effects of directly switching symptomatic, non-frequently exacerbating patients with moderate COPD from their current treatments, including steroid-containing combinations and long-acting bronchodilators, to the dual bronchodilator Ultibro Breezhaler (indacaterol/glycopyrronium) 110/50 mcg. In the CRYSTAL study, patients with moderate COPD who were switched to Ultibro Breezhaler from their previous therapy (LABA+ICS or LABA or LAMA) experienced superior improvements in lung function (trough FEV1) and breathlessness at week 12. Significantly, CRYSTAL is the first LABA/LAMA pragmatic trial, designed to mimic clinical practice, so treatment switching occurred without a washout period. Ultibro Breezhaler was also well tolerated in the CRYSTAL study.

Comment: CRYSTAL was a prospective, multicenter, 12-week, randomized, pragmatic, open-label trial. Patients were recruited into four groups according to previous medication and symptoms, and randomized to a direct switch to Seebri Breezhaler (glycopyrronium) 50 mcg or Ultibro Breezhaler (indacaterol/glycopyrronium)110/50 mcg once daily vs. continuation of previous treatment.