New findings confirm Ultibro Breezhaler consistently more effective than Seretide in reducing COPD flare-ups

Ultibro Breezhaler reduced rate of all COPD exacerbations across different patient sub-groups vs Seretide in new analyses from FLAME study.

In the new analyses, once-daily Ultibro Breezhaler 110/50 mcg demonstrated consistent reductions in the rate of all exacerbations (mild, moderate and severe), regardless of age, smoking status, exacerbation history, disease severity, eosinophil levels (a type of white blood cells) and previous inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use, versus twice-daily Seretide 50/500 mcg. Specifically, among patients with the severest forms of COPD, Ultibro Breezhaler significantly reduced the rate of exacerbations and improved their health status versus the commonly used ICS/LABA combination. In addition, patients using Ultibro Breezhaler needed less rescue medication during the day.

New analyses presented at ERS 2016 also showed that, compared to Seretide, Ultibro Breezhaler was associated with fewer systemic effects, namely impairment of adrenal function, which regulates the natural production of hormones. Ultibro Breezhaler use has previously shown to be associated with significantly fewer cases of pneumonia than the ICS/LABA combination.

Adding evidence to the need to reduce the risks of chronic ICS therapy, results of a large retrospective observational study involving >87,000 participants (with and without COPD) from Sweden are also being shared at ERS 2016. The ARCTIC study found that COPD patients were at greater risk of pneumonia than those without the disease, but that this risk was even higher for those taking an ICS (whether at a low or high dose). Even people without COPD that took an ICS increased their risk of pneumonia, further demonstrating their interrelationship.