Clinical

Articles

The first respiratory biologic to be approved for administration via an autoinjector will be available in the US soon.

Self-injectable respiratory medication opens doors for patients with severe asthma

Budesonide/Formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy is an effective option for patients requiring treatment adjustments across Steps 2 to 4 of the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, according to the results of a study published online, June 2 in Respiratory Research.

BUD/FORM maintenance and reliever therapy effective asthma control

Use of short- and long-acting inhaled anticholinergic medications in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with an increased risk of acute urinary retention, according to the results of a study published in the May 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

IACs linked to increased risk of acute urinary retention in men with COPD

Pirfenidone, an investigational drug (InterMune) that inhibits the synthesis of TGF-beta and TNF-alpha, was associated with positive effects on lung function, 6-minute walk test distance, and progression-free survival in patients with mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Study: Pirfenidone shows promise 
as IPF treatment option

For the fourth consecutive year, diabetes therapy topped the list of contributors to drug use trends in therapeutic categories, contributing 16.1% to overall growth in drug spending in 2010 due to an increasing number of patients, according to the recently released 2011 Medco Drug Trend Report, which tracks utilization and spending.

Breaking News: Diabetes, specialty drugs continue to drive growth in drug spending

New molecular entity: Roflumilast oral treatment was approved by FDA as treatment to reduce risk of COPD exacerbations.

Roflumilast oral treatment (Daliresp): Treatment to reduce COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis

The anticholinergic drug tiotropium is more effective than the ?2-agonist salmeterol in preventing exacerbations in patients with moderate-to-very-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a multicenter European study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Tiotropium superior to salmeterol in preventing exacerbations in COPD

New indication: Tigecycline (Tygacil), a tetracycline-class antibiotic, was approved on March 20, 2009, for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia

Tigecycline (Tygacil): Tetracycline-class antibiotic approved for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (May 2009) (PDF)

This article reviews the similarities and differences between albuterol (ALB) and levalbuterol (LEV) to provide P&T committees a concise summary of the available literature regarding efficacy, side effects, and cost of these agents.

Nebulized albuterol versus levalbuterol in pediatric and adult patients: A review

New indication: Budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort), a corticosteroid/LABA combination, was approved on February 27, 2009, for the maintenance treatment of COPD

Budesonide/Formoterol (Symbicort): Corticosteroid/LABA combination approved for the maintenance treatment of COPD

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of asthma, COPD, and PAH

Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of pulmonary diseases (March 2009) (PDF)

An observational retrospective study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine demonstrated that mortality is reduced when patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are treated with cardioselective beta-blockers before major vascular surgery.

Beta-blockers are associated with reduced mortality in patients with COPD undergoing vascular surgery

In the Understanding Potential Long-Term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium (UPLIFT) trial, tiotropium therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was associated with long-term improvements in lung function, quality of life, and COPD exacerbations. The therapy did not, however, significantly reduce the rate of decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) compared with placebo.

Tiotropium improves long-term lung function in COPD

A nested case-control analysis published in the Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrated an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with recently diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated with ipratropium.

Ipratropium associated with increased risk of death in patients with COPD

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a frequently occurring complication of endotracheal intubation and hospitalization that is associated with a significant increase in morbidity, mortality, and cost of care.

Update on the diagnosis and treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia

In a retrospective cohort study of 162 primary care practices in the United Kingdom, the use of antibiotics was demonstrated to be effective in preventing serious complications following upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), sore throat, or otitis media; however, the authors stated that the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent 1 such complication is too high to justify prescription of the drugs for this purpose.

Antibiotics justified to prevent pneumonia after chest infection, but not to prevent other serious complications after respiratory tract infection

A review of agents in late-stage development for the treatment of asthma (July 2007).

Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of asthma (July 2007) (PDF)

In a large, nested cohort study, use of inhaled corticosteroids at doses greater than 1,200 mcg/d was associated with a 61% reduction in the risk of developing lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Inhaled corticosteroids associated with decreased risk of lung cancer in patients with COPD

In a meta-analysis, inhaled corticosteroids were associated with a risk of oropharyngeal adverse events.