Ciclesonide: long-term treatment of persistent asthma--no clear progress

Inhaled corticosteroids such as beclometasone are the drugs of choice for long-term treatment of patients with persistent asthma. There is no tangible difference in efficacy among inhaled corticosteroids, but we have the most experience with beclometasone. Ciclesonide (Alvesco, Nycomed then Takeda), another inhaled cortico-steroid, has been tested in three double-blind trials versus budesonide and six trials versus fluticasone but none versus beclometasone. These trials showed the "non-inferiority" of ciclesonide, mainly in terms of a surrogate endpoint: the change in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) after 12 or 24 weeks of treatment (primary endpoint). However, the doses of ciclesonide used in these trials were higher than the standard doses while doses of the comparator corticosteroids were lower than the standard doses, thus favouring ciclesonide. Local adverse effects of inhaled corticosteroids include oral candidiasis, sore throat and hoarseness. A systematic review conducted by a Cochrane group suggests that ciclesonide does not have a better adverse effect profile than other inhaled corticosteroids used at equivalent doses. Corticosteroid inhalation can also lead to systemic absorption. The practical advantage of once-daily dosing with ciclesonide seems minor. In practice, ciclesonide is neither more effective than the inhaled corticosteroids with which it has been compared, nor does it have fewer adverse effects. It is better to continue to use beclometasone, a drug with which there is more experience.