In Silico Lung Deposition Profiles of Three Single-Inhaler Triple Therapies in Patients with COPD Using Functional...

Inhalation is the foundational route for administering pharmacological treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Given the relevance of both large and small airways in COPD, lung distribution deposition characteristics of different inhaler options could influence treatment effects. This study evaluated the total deposition of 3 single-inhaler triple therapies in the large and small airways.

This study assessed lung deposition of different inhalers using in silico functional respiratory imaging from 20 patients with COPD. The first part evaluated budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate (BGF) pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI), beclomethasone dipropionate/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate (BDP/G/F) pMDI, and fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) dry powder inhaler (DPI) at 30 L/min. The second part assessed BGF pMDI and FF/UMEC/VI DPI at 60 L/min.

All 3 inhalers had different in silico total lung and large and small airways deposition profiles at 30 L/min, with BGF pMDI (54.8% to 57.7%) demonstrating a higher deposition profile across each therapeutic component versus BDP/G/F pMDI (38.6% to 40.5%) and FF/UMEC/VI DPI (24.0% to 36.1%), respectively. Similarly, at 60 L/min, the total deposition of all 3 components of BGF pMDI (57.2% to 58.5%) remained higher compared with FF/UMEC/VI DPI (19.8% to 34.1%).

These findings provide quantitative insights into relative lung deposition distribution profiles and efficiency of delivery for 3 inhaler options. Further research is needed to understand if these deposition patterns could translate into real-world clinical effectiveness differences.