Umeclidinium/vilanterol fixed-dose combination for COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality is projected to increase by more than 30% in the next 10 years without interventions to cut risks, particularly tobacco smoke exposure. Umeclidinium/vilanterol at 62.5/25 μg is the fixed-dose combination of a long-acting antimuscarinic agent and a long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist that administered as dry powder by inhalation was developed for the maintenance treatment of COPD. The combination demonstrated its efficacy in phase III studies where the amelioration of lung function translated into subjective symptomatic improvements. Its long-term safety and tolerability were demonstrated in a 52-week study. Last December, umeclidinium/vilanterol 62.5/25 μg combination was approved, as Anoro™ Ellipta™, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for maintenance treatment of COPD, being the first FDA-approved once-daily treatment for COPD that contains two long-acting bronchodilators in a single inhaler. It has been filed for approval with the European Medicines Agency.