Boehringer Ingelheim publishes INSPIRE study results

Boehringer Ingelheim has published the results of its study comparing the efficacy of salmeterol and fluticasone propionate (Seretide) and tiotropium (Spiriva) on exacerbations leading to treatment in patients with severe and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a history of exacerbations.

Treatment guidelines that have been produced as a result of the INSPIRE study recommend that Spiriva should be used as a first-line maintenance treatment for patients with all severities of COPD.

In addition, the pharmaceutical company advises that inhaled corticosteroids should be used for patients with severe or very severe COPD.

However, the study showed no difference between Spiriva and Seretide for the primary endpoint of exacerbations.

The trial’s safety findings, including overall fatal events, were consistent with a patient population with severe and very severe COPD, according to Boehringer Ingelheim.

INSPIRE was designed to focus on the efficacy endpoint rather than acting as a mortality trial.

Consequently, patients who did not complete the study were not followed up and no definitive conclusions can be taken from the apparent differences between the two treatment arms.

Last month, Boehringer Ingelheim presented new data showing that pramipexole monotherapy can reduce dyskinesias and delay the need for levodopa treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease.