Long-Term Fluticasone Propionate/Formoterol Fumarate Combination Therapy Is Associated with a Low Incidence of Severe Asthma Exacerbations

Abstract

Background:

A primary goal of asthma management is the reduction of exacerbation risk. We assessed the occurrence of oral corticosteroid-requiring exacerbations (OCS exacerbations) with long-term fluticasone/formoterol therapy, and compared it with the occurrence of similar events reported with other inhaled corticosteroid/long acting β₂-agonist (ICS/LABA) combinations.

Methods:

The occurrence of OCS exacerbations was assessed in two open-label trials of fixed-dose fluticasone/formoterol administered for between 26 to 60 weeks in adults and adolescents with asthma. The incidence of OCS exacerbations with fluticasone/formoterol was compared with those reported in three recent Cochrane meta-analyses of other ICS/LABAs.

Results:

The pooled incidence of OCS exacerbations with long-term fluticasone/formoterol was 2.1% (95% CI: 1.1, 3.2%, n/N = 16/752). In only two of the nineteen treatment arms summarized by Cochrane did OCS exacerbation incidence approximate that seen in the two fluticasone/formoterol trials (single-inhaler fluticasone/salmeterol [2.9%]; separate inhaler budesonide, beclometasone, or flunisolide plus formoterol [3.4%]). In Lasserson's review the pooled incidence of OCS exacerbations for single-inhaler combinations was 9.5% (95% CI: 8.4, 10.6%; n/N = 239/2516) for fluticasone/salmeterol, and 10.6% (95% CI: 9.3, 11.8%; n/N = 257/2433) for budesonide/formoterol. In Ducharme's and Chauhan's meta-analyses (primarily incorporating separate inhaler combinations [fluticasone, budesonide, beclometasone, or flunisolide plus salmeterol or formoterol]), the pooled incidences of OCS exacerbations were 16.0% (95% CI: 14.2, 17.8%, n/N = 258/1615) and 16.7% (95% CI: 14.9, 18.5, n/N = 275/1643), respectively.

Conclusions:

The incidence of exacerbations in two fixed-dose fluticasone/formoterol studies was low and less than in the majority of comparable published studies involving other ICS/LABA combinations. This difference could not be readily explained by differences in features of the respective studies and may be related to the favorable pharmacological/mechanistic characteristics of the constituent components fluticasone and formoterol compared to other drugs in their respective classes.

Introduction

The reduction of exacerbation risk is a primary goal of asthma management.^(1,2) Prior exacerbations,^(3,4) poor asthma control,^(4,5) activity limitation,⁽⁴⁾ treatment compliance,⁽⁶⁾ lower forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁),^(3,7–9) and allergic rhinitis^(10,11) are predictors of future exacerbation risk. Asthma exacerbations impair quality of life, cause significant debilitation, and in rare cases may lead to death. Exacerbations are associated with absences from work or school and increased healthcare costs.^(12–14)

Although there is no standardized definition of an asthma exacerbation, there is agreement that asthma exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids are intuitively meaningful,^(1,2,15) and this simple, clinically relevant outcome has routinely been evaluated in most asthma trials, allowing between-trial comparisons.^(15–20)

Combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β₂-agonists (LABAs) reduce the risk of exacerbations compared to ICS alone^(16,21,22) and are recommended where asthma is not controlled with ICS monotherapy. A combination of fluticasone propionate (fluticasone) and formoterol fumarate (formoterol) in an HFA pMDI inhaler (fluticasone/formoterol; flutiform^®) has been evaluated in a comprehensive programme of randomized controlled clinical trials.^(23–29) In addition, the long-term tolerability and safety of fluticasone/formoterol has been demonstrated in two open-label, fixed-dose clinical trials of 60 weeks (Study 1)⁽³⁰⁾ and 26–52 weeks (Study 2)⁽³¹⁾, respectively. Here we assess the occurrence of exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroid therapy in those two studies. To contextualize these data, we assessed the occurrence of similar events reported with other ICS/LABAs in three recent Cochrane meta-analyses,^(22,32,33) drawn in turn from a total of twelve long-term fixed-dose studies in broadly similar patient populations.

Materials and Methods

The occurrence of oral corticosteroid-requiring exacerbations (OCS exacerbations) was assessed in Studies 1⁽³⁰⁾ and 2⁽³¹⁾ of fluticasone/formoterol given at a fixed dose in 752 asthmatic patients aged ≥12 years. The incidence of OCS exacerbations with fluticasone/formoterol was compared with those reported in the three most recent Cochrane meta-analyses detailing the efficacy and safety of other fixed dose ICS/LABA combinations in asthma. The meta-analyses did not include ICS/LABA studies where doses could be varied dependent upon treatment response or those employing “SMART” or “MART” maintenance and reliever strategies.

Factors known to predict or modify asthma exacerbation risk, based on consistent evidence from the published literature, were examined with the relevant data from each trial extracted and checked by two authors (SD and BG). Where the requisite data was not available from at least a third of the Cochrane studies (e.g., baseline eosinophil levels) the corresponding data were not summarized, given the difficulty in drawing any meaningful conclusions thereof.

Long-term fluticasone/formoterol studies

Both fluticasone/formoterol studies were of an open-label, long-term, multicentre design and enrolled two distinct populations of patients.

Study 1⁽³⁰⁾ (a follow-on study) assessed the long-term safety and efficacy of fluticasone/formoterol 250/10 μg twice daily (b.i.d.) over 60 weeks in 280 patients who had completed an earlier 12-week phase 3 trial⁽³⁴⁾ within the previous 24 weeks. Patients had 40%–80% predicted FEV₁, and were using ≤500 μg fluticasone or equivalent/day [Study 1: NCT00747318/EudraCT 2008-002460-34; preceding 12-week trial: NCT00649025/EudraCT 2007-005653-37].

Key exclusion criteria for the parent study were: a history of life-threatening asthma, hospitalization or intubation for asthma within the past year, an emergency room (ER) visit for asthma or OCS for asthma in the preceding 3 months, the use of omalizumab within 6 months or leukotriene receptor antagonists within 1 week, and a smoking history within the preceding 12 months. Asthma medications other than study treatment were prohibited during the study and patients were discontinued if they required systemic corticosteroid treatment for an asthma exacerbation.

In the parent study, patients received fluticasone/formoterol 250/10 μg b.i.d. (N = 146) or fluticasone 250 μg b.i.d. (N = 292); 392 patients (89.5%) completed and 46 patients discontinued, of these, 4 patients (1 fluticasone/formoterol, 3 fluticasone) discontinued due to asthma exacerbations, and 16 (1 fluticasone/formoterol and 15 fluticasone) due to loss of asthma control. A total of 280 patients continued into the follow-on study (i.e. Study 1).

Study 2⁽³¹⁾ evaluated the long-term safety of fluticasone/formoterol 100/10 μg or 250/10 μg b.i.d. in 472 patients with 40%–85% predicted FEV₁ and using ≤500 μg/day fluticasone or equivalent (allocation to fluticasone/formoterol dose group was dependent upon the patient's pre-study ICS dose). Key exclusion criteria and prohibited concomitant medications were very similar to Study 1; however, in Study 2 patients could only enter the study with uncontrolled asthma and concomitant antimuscarinics were not specifically precluded. As in Study 1, the use of systemic corticosteroids for worsening asthma led to discontinuation from the study. The first 80 patients in each dose group received treatment for 12 months. Subsequent patients were treated for 6 months (NCT00394121/EudraCT 2005-003518-14).

For the main analysis, patients in Studies 1 and 2 were considered to have an “OCS exacerbation” if they had an asthma exacerbation that was treated with an oral, intramuscular, or intravenous corticosteroid for asthma: this allowed a like-for-like comparison with OCS exacerbation frequency as reported in the three Cochrane meta-analyses. A second definition of “respiratory exacerbations” was employed as a sensitivity analysis: patients were deemed to have a respiratory exacerbation if they received an oral, intramuscular, or intravenous corticosteroid for any respiratory illness. This definition was primarily intended to identify potentially miscoded OCS exacerbations. Patients captured by either definition who required hospital management were identified.

Compliance with ethics

Study 1 and Study 2 were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and International Conference on Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice guidelines, and were approved by the relevant independent ethics committees. All patients provided written informed consent.

Other ICS and LABA combination therapies

Data on the incidence of OCS exacerbations with other combinations of an ICS and LABA were obtained from three recent Cochrane reviews (Ducharme et al.;⁽²²⁾ Lasserson et al.;⁽³²⁾ Chauhan and Ducharme⁽³³⁾), selected as they were the most recent, relevant meta-analyses of fixed dose ICS/LABA combination therapy in asthma that included specific analyses of OCS exacerbations. From the Cochrane reviews we focused only on studies of patients aged ≥12 years and only on studies of >16 weeks to ensure comparability with the fluticasone/formoterol studies. The primary outcome measure in all three Cochrane meta-analyses was the number of patients with one or more exacerbations requiring oral steroids (i.e., the incidence of OCS exacerbations).

The meta-analysis by Lasserson et al.⁽³²⁾ estimated the relative effects of fixed-dose single-inhaler fluticasone/salmeterol and budesonide/formoterol in five head-to-head long-term studies. OCS exacerbations were reported in four of the five studies (Aalbers et al.,⁽³⁵⁾ Busse et al.,⁽³⁶⁾ COMPASS [Kuna et al.],⁽³⁷⁾ EXCEL [Dahl et al.]⁽³⁸⁾). The four studies included 4949 patients, and each compared regular maintenance treatment with budesonide/formoterol 400/12 μg b.i.d. with fluticasone/salmeterol 250/50 μg/day (Table 1). Notably, the Lasserson studies were of somewhat shorter duration (24 or 28 weeks) than the fluticasone/formoterol studies (26/52 weeks or 60 weeks).

Table 1.

Summary of the Studies Included in the Pooled Analysis

Study	Randomized patients (N)	Blinding	Treatment duration (weeks)	Treatment	Countries in which study performed	Visit frequency during treatment period
FP/FORM studies
1^a	280	Open-label	60	FP/FORM 250/10 μg MDI b.i.d.	Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Ukraine, USA	Every 12 weeks
2^b	472	Open-label	26 or 52^c	FP/FORM 100/10 μg MDI b.i.d. or 250/10 μg MDI b.i.d.	Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom	Every 4 weeks
Lasserson et al. (32) Cochrane review of single inhaler FP/SAL versus single inhaler BUD/FORM
Aalbers, 2004 (35)	215 219	Open-label	28	BUD/FORM 400/12 μg TBH b.i.d. FP/SAL 250/50 μg DSK b.i.d.	Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands	NR
Busse, 2008 (36)	422 404	Open-label	28	BUD/FORM 400/12 μg MDI b.i.d. FP/SAL 250/50 μg DSK b.i.d.	USA	Months 1, 4 and 7
COMPASS (37) (Kuna 2007)	1099 1199	Double-blind	24	BUD/FORM 400/12 μg TBH b.i.d. FP/SAL 250/50 μg MDI b.i.d.	16 countries (countries not specified)	Every 8 weeks
EXCEL (38) (Dahl, 2006)	697 694	Double-blind	24	BUD/FORM 400/12 μg TBH b.i.d. FP/SAL 250/50 μg DSK b.i.d.	18 countries (countries not specified)	Weeks 4, 8, 16 and 24
Ducharme et al (22) Cochrane review of addition of LABA to ICS versus same dose of ICS
Aubier, 1999 (39) Single inhaler	167	Double-blind	28	FP/SAL 500/50 μg DSK b.i.d.	Germany, Netherlands & France	Weeks 2, 4, 12, 20 and 28
Two inhalers	171	Double-blind	28	FP 500 DSK + SAL 50 μg DSK b.i.d.
Fitzgerald, 1999 (40)	89	Double-blind	24	BUD, BDP or FLN 400–1200 μg DPI or MDI + FORM 12 μg Aeroliser b.i.d.	Canada	Months 1, 3, 5 and 6
OPTIMA (18) Low dose ICS	323	Double-blind	52	BUD 100 μg TBH + FORM 4.5 μg TBH b.i.d.	17 countries (countries not specified)	9 visits over 1 year
(O'Byrne, 2001) High dose ICS	315	Double-blind	52	BUD 200 μg TBH + FORM 4.5 μg TBH b.i.d.
FACET (16) Low dose ICS	210	Double-blind	52	BUD 100 μg TBH + FORM 12 μg TBH b.i.d.	Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom	Week 2 and Months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12
(Pauwels, 1997) High dose ICS	215	Double-blind	52	BUD 400 μg TBH + FORM 12 μg TBH b.i.d.
van der Molen, 1997 (41)	125	Double-blind	24	ICS (usual dose) DPI or MDI + FORM 24 μg TBH b.i.d.	The Netherlands, Canada	Weeks 4, 12 and 24
Chauhan and Ducharme (33) Cochrane review of addition to ICS of LABAs versus anti-leukotrienes
Bjermer, 2003 (42)	743	Double-blind	48	FP 100 μg DPI + SAL 50 μg MDI b.i.d.	37 countries (countries not specified)	NR
Ilowite, 2004 (43)	730	Double-blind	48	FP 125 μg MDI + SAL 50 μg MDI b.i.d.	USA	NR
Price, 2011 (44)	182	Open-label	104	BDP, BUD or FP (DPI or MDI) + SAL (Diskhaler or DSK or MDI) or FORM (TBH or Aeroliser)	United Kingdom	Months 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24

BDP, beclometasone; b.i.d., twice daily; BUD, budesonide; DSK, Diskus; DPI, dry powder inhaler where various devices could be used;

FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FLN, flunisolide; FORM, formoterol; FP, fluticasone propionate; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting β₂ agonist; NR, not reported; SAL, salmeterol; TBH, Turbuhaler.

Under treatment, a ‘/’ between the ICS and LABA denotes a fixed dose single-inhaler combination, while a ‘+’ denotes separate inhalers.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00747318 / EudraCT number: 2008-002460-34.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00394121 / EudraCT number: 2005-003518-14.

The first 80 patients in each dose group received treatment for 52 weeks; subsequent patients were treated for 26 weeks.

The meta-analysis by Ducharme et al.⁽²²⁾ compared fixed dose ICS plus LABA versus the same fixed dose of ICS alone in patients with asthma insufficiently controlled on ICS monotherapy. Five long-term studies (duration 24 to 52 weeks) from this Cochrane review (Pauwels et al. [FACET],⁽¹⁶⁾ O'Byrne et al. [OPTIMA],⁽¹⁸⁾ Aubier et al.,⁽³⁹⁾ Fitzgerald et al.,⁽⁴⁰⁾ and van der Molen et al.⁽⁴¹⁾) including 1615 patients, reported OCS exacerbations and are presented here. The studies all involved separate inhaler ICS/LABA combinations (fluticasone + salmeterol, budesonide + formoterol, beclometasone + formoterol, and flunisolide + formoterol); Aubier et al. also evaluated a single-inhaler ICS/LABA (fluticasone/salmeterol) (Table 1). O'Byrne et al.⁽¹⁸⁾ and Pauwels et al.⁽¹⁶⁾ both evaluated two dose levels in their respective studies.

Chauhan and Ducharme's meta-analysis⁽³³⁾ compared the addition of a LABA versus that of a leukotriene receptor agonist to the treatment regimen of asthmatics who remained symptomatic despite regular ICS. There were three long-term studies summarized in this review (Bjermer et al.,⁽⁴²⁾ Ilowite et al.,⁽⁴³⁾ and Price et al.⁽⁴⁴⁾), including 1655 patients overall, which reported OCS exacerbations. The studies by Bjermer et al.⁽⁴²⁾ and Ilowite et al.⁽⁴³⁾ used separate inhaler ICS/LABA combinations (fluticasone + salmeterol), whilst the study by Price et al.⁽⁴⁴⁾ allowed a range of separate or single inhaler ICS/LABA combinations (beclometasone, budesonide or fluticasone + salmeterol or formoterol or budesonide/formoterol or fluticasone/salmeterol) (Table 1).

Key entry criteria for the studies described above are summarized in Table 2 and were broadly comparable with patients' requirement for step-up to ICS/LABA ascertained in all but one case (FACET). Only the COMPASS study specifically recruited patients with a history of recent exacerbations (≥ 1 in the previous 1–12 months). All other studies excluded patients with a recent history of exacerbations, although the exact criteria varied from study to study. Studies 1 and 2 and the EXCEL study excluded patients with exacerbations in the preceding 3 months, while Aalbers et al., Busse et al., COMPASS, van der Molen et al., Bjermer et al., and Ilowite et al. all excluded patients with exacerbations within 1 month of study entry.

Table 2.

Key Study Design and Patient Selection Features by Study

Study	Requirement for uncontrolled symptoms at baseline (Yes/No)^a	Specific enrolment of patients with an exacerbation history? (Y/N)	Exclusion of recent exacerbations? (Y/N)^c	Baseline ICS use inclusion criterion (μg/day FP equivalent (mean baseline use))	Exclusion of patients with smoking history? (Y/N)	Concomitant asthma medications
FP/FORM studies
1	Not for this follow-on study. However, uncontrolled symptoms were required for entry into the parent study	No	Yes	≤500 (NR)	Yes^d	Permitted: prn salbutamol rescueProhibited: leukotriene modifiers, LABAs, inhaled, nasal, oral or injectable corticosteroids, mucolytics, methylxanthines, sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium, tiotropium and omalizumab
2	Yes	No	Yes	≤500 (NR)	Yes^d	Permitted: prn salbutamol rescueProhibited: leukotriene modifiers, LABAs, inhaled, nasal, oral or injectable corticosteroids, mucolytics and omalizumab
Lasserson et al (32) Cochrane review of single inhaler FP/SAL versus single inhaler BUD/FORM
Aalbers, 2004 (35)	Yes	No	Yes	250–600 (368)	Yes^e	Permitted: Terbutaline or salbutamol rescue
Busse, 2008 (36)	Yes	No	Yes	>300–500 (NR)	Yes^f	Permitted: prn SABA rescue
COMPASS (37)(Kuna, 2007)	Yes	Yes^b	Yes	≥500 (374)	No^g	Permitted: Terbutaline rescue
EXCEL (38)(Dahl, 2006)	Yes	No	Yes	500–1000 (NR)	Yes^e	Permitted: Salbutamol rescue
Ducharme et al. (22) Cochrane review of ICS/LABA free combinations
Aubier, 1999 (39)	Yes	No	NR	750–1000 (NR)	No^h	Permitted: prn SABA rescueRegular therapy for asthma, such as anticholinergics, theophyllines, sodium cromoglicate, continued unchanged
Fitzgerald, 1999 (40)	Yes	No	Yes	200–600 (366)	Yes	Permitted: prn salbutamol In case of exacerbation, investigators could increase dose of ICS and/or add oral corticosteroidStable doses of inhaled sodium cromoglicate, nedocromil, and oral xanthines were permitted throughout the trial, with oral antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids permitted up to 30 days (cumulative)
OPTIMA (18)(O'Byrne, 2001)	Yes	No	NR	≤400 (NR)	NR	Permitted: prn SABA rescueProhibited: No other asthma medications allowed except in case of exacerbation
FACET (16)(Pauwels, 1997)	No	No	Yes	≤800 (419)	NR	prn SABA rescue
van der Molen, 1997 (41)	Yes	No	Yes	≤800 (NR)	Yes^f	Permitted: prn SABA rescueProhibited: Sodium cromoglicate, theophylline, and anticholinergic drugs
Chauhan, Ducharme (33) Cochrane review of addition to ICS of LABAs versus anti-leukotrienes
Bjermer, 2003 (42)	Yes	No	Yes	100–500 (324)	NR	None
Ilowite, 2004 (43)	Yes	No	Yes	NR	NR	prn SABA rescue
Price, 2011 (44)	Yes	No	Yes	Stable dose (902)	Noⁱ	Permitted: prn inhaled SABA, ipratropium, theophylline, cromoglicate, nedocromil

BUD, budesonide; FORM, formoterol; FP, fluticasone propionate; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; NR, not reported; SABA, short-acting beta-agonist; SAL, salmeterol.

Defined as the use of rescue medication or asthma symptoms during the run-in period; ^bPatients were required to have had ≥1 asthma exacerbation in the previous 1–12 months; ^cExclusion of patients with a recent history of exacerbations or recent use of systemic corticosteroids;

Exclusion of patients with a smoking history >10 pack/years, and/or with a recent history of smoking (Study 1) and/or current smoking history within previous 12 months (Study 2); ^eExclusion of patient with a smoking history >10 pack/years; ^fExclusion of patients with a smoking history >20 pack/years; ^gIn this study 79% of patients had never smoked, 15% were previous smokers and 6% were current smokers; ^hIn this study, 46% of patients had never smoked, 39% were previous smokers, and 15% were current smokers; ⁱIn this study, 41% of patients had never smoked, 42% were previous smokers, and 17% were current smokers.

In the FACET study only very frequent exacerbators (3 or more courses of OCS or hospitalization due to asthma in the 6 months before study entry) were excluded. Patients in the study by Price et al., were excluded if they were experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation or had used systemic corticosteroids within 2 weeks of study entry. Fitzgerald et al. excluded patients who had had an exacerbation requiring an emergency room visit within 3 months of study entry. The studies reported by Aubier et al. and the OPTIMA study did not specify any inclusion/exclusion criteria regarding prior asthma exacerbations or recent systemic corticosteroid use.

There was some variation in baseline ICS doses: the two fluticasone/formoterol studies, the COMPASS study, and those of Aalbers et al. and Busse et al. imposed an upper limit for enrolment of 500–600 μg fluticasone propionate-equivalents (FP-e)/day. In the OPTIMA study, patients were ICS-naive or on a low dose of ≤200 μg FP-e/day. Somewhat higher screening doses of up to 800 to 1000 μg FP-e/day were permitted in the remaining studies (Table 2).

Patients in most studies had uncontrolled symptoms at baseline, defined as the use of rescue medication and/or the presence of asthma symptoms during the run-in period (Table 2). The exceptions were fluticasone/formoterol Study 1, which mandated uncontrolled symptoms at the start of the previous 12-week double-blind study, but not at the start of the 60 week extension study, and the FACET study, which required that randomized patients had stable asthma.

Following enrollment, only two of the studies mandated treatment with oral steroids for specific exacerbation criteria: the FACET study in case of a >30% decrease from baseline peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) for 2 consecutive days (as well as if deemed necessary by the investigator for clinical need) and van der Molen et al., where PEFR decreased by >20% from baseline for 2 consecutive days.

Studies 1 and 2 were conducted across different territories (Study 1; Central, South and North America and Eastern Europe: Study 2; Eastern and Western Europe). Of the Cochrane studies, eight were performed in Europe and/or North America (one study also included Israel), whilst the countries in which four studies were undertaken were not specified (Table 1).

Data analysis

The incidence of OCS exacerbations (main analysis) and respiratory exacerbations (sensitivity analysis) for the fluticasone/formoterol studies was calculated by dividing the number of patients with at least one exacerbation event by the total number of patients in the studies, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. A similar approach was used to calculate the pooled incidence of OCS exacerbations for fixed-dose fluticasone/salmeterol and budesonide/salmeterol for the studies included from Lasserson et al., and for the ICS and LABA combinations included from Ducharme et al. and Chauhan and Ducharme.

Results

Baseline characteristics of patients

Patient characteristics in the 12 Cochrane studies were broadly similar to those in the fluticasone/formoterol studies (Table 3). The mean age was 42–43 years in Studies 1 and 2, and 36–50 years for those from the Cochrane analyses. Mean FEV₁ % predicted was 67%–73% in Studies 1 and 2, and similar in 10 out of the 12 Cochrane studies (68%–79%), but somewhat higher in the study by Aalbers et al. and the OPTIMA study (84%–87%). Limited ethnicity data were available but, where detailed, patients were predominantly white. Whereas in the fluticasone/formoterol studies very few black patients (0.4%–2.1%) were enrolled, as in studies by Bjermer et al. and Price et al., higher proportions were enrolled in two studies performed solely at U.S. centers (Busse et al., Ilowite et al.) (Table 3).

Table 3.

Baseline Characteristics of Patients by Study

Study	Mean age	Gender (% male:female)	Ethnicity	FEV₁ % predicted	Reversibility (%)
FP/FORM studies
1	43	35:65	White 74.6%Black 2.1%Asian 0.4%Hispanic 19.6%Other 3.2%	67	NR
2	42	46:54	White 98.9%Black 0.4%Asian 0.6%	73	28
Lasserson et al (32) Cochrane review of single inhaler FP/SAL versus single inhaler BUD/FORM
Aalbers, 2004 (35) BUD/FORM	46	45:55	NR	84	NR
FP/SAL	46	49:51	NR	85	NR
Busse, 2008 (36) BUD/FORM	39	34:66	White 82.0%Black 13.8%Other 4.2%	79	NR
FP/SAL	39	43:57	White 84.0%Black 12.3%Other 3.7%	78	NR
COMPASS (37) BUD/FORM	38	41:59	NR	73	25
(Kuna, 2007) FP/SAL	38	43:57	NR	73	23
EXCEL(38) BUD/FORM	47	41:59	NR	79	24
(Dahl, 2006) FP/SAL	46	44:56	NR	79	20
Ducharme et al (22) Cochrane review of ICS/LABA free combinations
Aubier, 1999 (39) Single inhaler	46	57:43	NR	73	16
Separate inhalers	48	50:50	NR	73	18
Fitzgerald, 1999 (40)	36	53:47	NR	79	NR
OPTIMA (18) Low dose ICS	37	45:55	NR	86	NR
(O'Byrne, 2001) High dose ICS	37	41:59	NR	87	NR
FACET (16) Low dose ICS	41	50:50	NR	76	NR
(Pauwels, 1997) High dose ICS	42	47:53	NR	76	NR
van der Molen, 1997 (41)	41	49:51	NR	68	25
Chauhan, Ducharme (33) Cochrane review of addition to ICS of LABAs versus anti-leukotrienes
Bjermer, 2003 (42)	41	45:55	White 77.4%Black 0.5%Asian 7.4%Other 14.7%	73	19
Ilowite, 2004 (43)	38	37:63	White 85.6%Black 7.7%Hispanic 5.1%	74	19
Price, 2011 (44)	50	39:61	White 98%Other 2%	NR	NR

BUD, budesonide; FORM, formoterol; FP, fluticasone propionate; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; NR, not reported; SAL, salmeterol.

Treatment adherence

In both fluticasone/formoterol studies, adherence (assessed via patient diary cards and dose counter review) was high: 98% and 95% of subjects in Study 1 and 2, respectively, took at least 70% of their medication. Adherence data were available for 5 of the 11 Cochrane-summarized studies.^{(35–37,39,44)} High levels of adherence were seen in 4 of these studies: mean treatment compliance was ≥94% in Aubier's and Aalbers' studies, whilst ≥93% of subjects in Busse et al. and COMPASS reported taking at least 80% of their study medication. By contrast, in Price et al.'s real world study, adherence (based on prescriptions issued) with LABA was only 46% and with ICS only 64%.

Incidence of exacerbations with fluticasone/formoterol

Fluticasone/formoterol was associated with a similar, low incidence of OCS exacerbations in both studies (Fig. 1 and Table 4). The OCS exacerbation rate was 1.8% (95% CI: 0.2, 3.3%, n/N = 5/280) in Study 1 and 2.3% (95% CI: 1.0, 3.7%, n/N = 11/472) in Study 2. The pooled incidence of OCS exacerbations with long-term fluticasone/formoterol therapy was 2.1% (95% CI: 1.1, 3.2%, n/N = 16/752).

FIG. 1.

OCS exacerbation incidences for individual studies of ICS/LABA combinations. ICS/LABA OCS exacerbation rates are for studies 1 and 2, and in the individual studies as reported in the Cochrane meta-analyses by Lasserson et al.⁽³²⁾ Ducharme et al.,⁽²²⁾ and Chauhan and Ducharme.⁽³³⁾ BDP, beclometasone; BUD, budesonide; FLN, flunisolide; FORM, formoterol; FP, fluticasone propionate; SAL, salmeterol.

Table 4.

Long-Term Pooled OCS Exacerbation Rates with ICS/LABA Combinations ^*

	OCS exacerbation rate
ICS/LABA combination	n / N	%	95% confidence interval
Fluticasone/formoterol^a	16 / 752	2.1	1.1, 3.2
Fluticasone/formoterol^b	22 / 752	2.9	1.7, 4.1
Fluticasone/salmeterol [Lasserson, 2011 (32)]	239 / 2516	9.5	8.4, 10.6
Budesonide/formoterol [Lasserson, 2011 (32)]	257 / 2433	10.6	9.3, 11.8
ICS/LABA combinations [Ducharme, 2010 (22)]	258 / 1615	16.0	14.2, 17.8
ICS/LABA combinations [Chauhan, 2014 (33)]	275 / 1643	16.7	14.9, 18.5

Derived from fluticasone/formoterol studies and meta-analyses by Lasserson et al., 2011, Ducharme et al., 2010, and Chauhan and Ducharme, 2014.

OCS exacerbation, oral corticosteroid-requiring exacerbation.

Pooled OCS exacerbation rate from Studies 1 and 2 (main analysis includes patients with an exacerbation treated with an oral, intramuscular, or intravenous corticosteroid); ^bPooled severe exacerbation rate from Studies 1 and 2 (sensitivity analysis includes patients treated with oral, intramuscular, or intravenous corticosteroid for any respiratory illness).

The incidence of respiratory exacerbations (sensitivity analysis, including patients who received corticosteroids for any respiratory illness) was slightly higher: 2.9% of patients in Study 1 (95% CI: 9.1, 4.8%, n/N = 8/280) and 3.0% of patients in Study 2 (95% CI: 1.4, 4.5%, n/N = 14/472). The pooled respiratory exacerbation rate was 2.9% (95% CI: 1.7, 4.1%, n/N = 22/752), and the pooled hospitalization rate due to OCS exacerbations was 0.1% (95% CI: 0, 0.4%, n/N = 1/752).

Incidence of exacerbations with other ICS/LABA combinations

The pooled incidence of OCS exacerbations from the four studies reported by Lasserson et al. was higher than that observed for fluticasone/formoterol at 9.5% (95% CI: 8.4, 10.6%; n/N = 239/2516) for single-inhaler fluticasone/salmeterol (250/50 μg b.i.d.), and 10.6% (95% CI: 9.3, 11.8%; n/N = 257/2433) for single-inhaler budesonide/formoterol (400/12 μg b.i.d.) (Table 4). Variation in the incidence of OCS exacerbations was relatively low, ranging from 9.1% to 13.7% for budesonide/formoterol, and from 8.8% to 15.3% for fluticasone/salmeterol (Fig. 1).

For the ICS and LABA combinations in the five studies from Ducharme et al., the pooled incidence of OCS exacerbations was also notably higher than that seen with fluticasone/formoterol at 16.0% (95% CI: 14.2, 17.8%, n/N = 258/1615, Table 4). Across the five studies, the incidence of OCS exacerbations varied considerably (range: 2.9% to 29.5%) and was greater than 10% in four of five studies (Fig. 1). Two studies (OPTIMA and FACET) assessed two dose levels of budesonide in conjunction with formoterol; in both studies, fewer OCS exacerbations were seen in the high dose group than in the low dose group (12.4% vs. 18.0% and 19.1% vs. 29.5%, respectively). OCS exacerbations resulting in hospitalization were reported for ICS/LABA combinations in the Aubier et al., FACET, and van der Molen et al. studies, with an average hospitalization rate of 0.5% (n/N = 4/888).

The pooled incidence of OCS exacerbations for the ICS and LABA combinations in the three studies from Chauhan and Ducharme's Cochrane review⁽³³⁾ was very similar to that from the Ducharme et al.,⁽²²⁾ at 16.7% (95% CI: 14.9, 18.5, n/N = 275/1643, Table 4). OCS exacerbation rates were more than 2-fold higher in the study by Price et al. (36.3%, Fig. 1) compared with the studies by Bjermer et al. (14.4%) and Ilowite et al. (14.2%). Exacerbations resulting in hospitalization were reported for 0.7% of patients (n/N = 5/718) receiving fluticasone + salmeterol free combination in the Ilowite et al. study. Hospitalization rates were not reported by Bjermer et al. or Price et al.

Discussion

Long-term fixed dose fluticasone/formoterol therapy was associated with a low incidence of OCS exacerbations in two separate studies: The pooled incidence of exacerbations in 752 patients was only 2.1% (95% CIs 1.1%, 3.2%) following a mean of 10 months treatment. A sensitivity analysis of “respiratory” exacerbations, which included any respiratory events treated with a systemic corticosteroid including those not reported as asthma exacerbations, produced similar results (pooled incidence 2.9% [95% CIs 1.7%, 4.1%]).

The difference in OCS exacerbation incidence between the fluticasone/formoterol studies versus those reviewed by the Cochrane collaboration was surprising; a low incidence of exacerbations similar to that noted in the two fluticasone/formoterol studies was only reported by Aubier et al.⁽³⁹⁾ (for one of two arms in that study, single inhaler fluticasone/salmeterol) and by Fitzgerald et al.⁽⁴⁰⁾ (formoterol added to budesonide, beclometasone or flunisolide) from amongst 19 available datasets (Fig. 1). To better understand why such cross-trial differences might have been observed, we assessed key aspects of all studies with the potential to influence the occurrence of exacerbations.

Only one “real world” study was included amongst all those we reviewed, that of Price and co-workers.⁽⁴⁴⁾ Inclusion criteria were less restrictive than in the other studies assessed, with no requirement for patients to exhibit bronchodilator reversibility criterion or demonstrate correct inhaler technique prior to enrollment, nor exclusion of patients with significant co-morbidity or smoking history, and no restriction on concomitant medications. This study was associated with a considerably higher incidence of exacerbations on ICS/LABA treatment (36.3%) compared to all other studies we reviewed. This clearly suggests that the observed difference in exacerbation incidence is largely due to patient selection and the minimally interventional, “real life” nature of the study, likely allied to a prolonged study duration of 24 months and low rates of real world treatment adherence. The data of Price et al. are therefore of limited relevance to the fluticasone/formoterol data, hence the remainder of this discussion focuses primarily on the other 11 published studies (and 18 associated treatment arms).

Prior exacerbations are the strongest independent predictor of future exacerbation risk.^(4,5,45) In patients with asthma of varying severities, an exacerbation at baseline approximately trebles the odds of having an exacerbation at 1 year.^(4,45) Most of the ICS/LABA studies we reviewed clearly detailed enrollment criteria with respect to prior exacerbations. Only the COMPASS study specifically recruited a population with a prior history of exacerbations, hence this design difference was not the basis for the exacerbation incidence difference between the fluticasone/formoterol and other studies reported. Interestingly, the incidence of OCS exacerbations in COMPASS was very similar to those in several of the other studies assessed.

All studies (including COMPASS) excluded patients with “recent” exacerbations, although studies differed in the length of time that patients had to be exacerbation-free prior to enrolment and in terms of the exact description of excluded exacerbations. Theoretically these differences might have impacted on exacerbation incidence during each trial if, for example, temporal clustering of exacerbations occurs in asthma in a similar manner to that described in COPD⁽⁴⁶⁾ (albeit this has not, to our knowledge, been described in asthma).

However, although the fluticasone/formoterol and EXCEL studies shared similar (3-month) exacerbation-free periods pre-study, the respective incidences of exacerbations clearly differed between these two studies (2.1% [fluticasone/formoterol] versus 9.5% [fluticasone/salmeterol] and 10.6% [budesonide/formoterol]). Furthermore the incidence of exacerbations in EXCEL with both fluticasone/salmeterol and budesonide/formoterol was similar to those observed for these single inhaler combinations in COMPASS, and the studies of Busse et al. and Aalbers et al. (which each stipulated a 1 month exacerbation-free period). Thus there was no clear relationship between the exacerbation-free interval and subsequent exacerbation incidence in our review.

One study in which the exacerbation exclusion criterion employed does appear to be pertinent is FACET. Pauwels et al. only excluded very frequent exacerbators (3 or more OCS exacerbations within the past 6 months) from study participation. Note that FACET was one of only two studies (alongside van der Molen et al.) that stipulated that OCS should be instituted when reductions in PEFR of a certain magnitude were observed. These two studies reported the highest incidence of exacerbations across all those assessed (excluding Price's “real-world” study). Thus OCS treatment criteria based on PEFR would appear to explain, at least in part, the much greater exacerbation incidences in FACET and van der Molen's studies than in our own. In FACET, however, OCS could also be instituted based on clinical need, and 73% of OCS exacerbations were a result of clinical need rather a drop in PEFR.⁽⁴⁷⁾ Hence, treatment criteria alone do not explain the high exacerbation incidence in FACET. The recruitment of all but the most frequent exacerbators into this study therefore appears to be the most likely cause of the high exacerbation incidence subsequently observed.

Lung function impairment is another of the most consistent, independent predictors of future exacerbation risk.^(3,4,8,9,45) For example, Osborne and colleagues⁽⁸⁾ reported a relative risk for acute care of 2.43 in asthmatics with FEV₁ 60%–80% predicted compared to those with FEV₁ >80% predicted. Similar results were reported in a Dutch asthma cohort.⁽⁹⁾ Given these observations it is interesting that mean lung function in the two fluticasone/formoterol studies (67% and 73%, respectively) was towards the lower end of the spectrum compared to the other studies assessed. van der Molen et al. reported a mean baseline of 68% predicted FEV₁, whilst COMPASS and Aubier's study reported baseline values of 73% predicted FEV₁. In the other studies reviewed, mean baseline lung function ranged from 76% to 87% predicted FEV₁. Thus the degree of lung function impairment in the fluticasone/formoterol studies does not explain the low exacerbation incidences subsequently seen, although it may have contributed to the high exacerbation incidence noted in van der Molen's study (in addition to the PEFR criteria stipulating when OCS should be instituted).

Another factor associated with the occurrence of exacerbations is uncontrolled disease.^(4,5,45) To simplify matters, given the use of different baseline descriptors of symptomatology, we categorized studies as either mandating or not mandating symptomatic disease as an enrollment criterion. Only two studies did not mandate the enrollment of symptomatic patients: fluticasone/formoterol Study 1 and FACET. Given that the incidences of OCS exacerbations in fluticasone/formoterol Studies 1 and 2 were very similar (1.8% and 2.3%, respectively), an enrollment criterion specifying symptomatic disease did not appear to influence the subsequent reporting of OCS exacerbations—possibly because the parent study to Study 1 did include a “symptomatic disease” inclusion criterion. Furthermore it is noteworthy that in FACET, despite the enrollment of patients with stable disease at baseline, the OCS exacerbation incidence (19.1% and 29.5% on high and low dose budesonide + formoterol, respectively) was amongst the highest across all the studies assessed (Fig. 1). Overall, therefore, differences in baseline symptomatology did not appear to explain the lower incidence of exacerbations in the fluticasone/formoterol versus other studies.

The territories in which the studies were undertaken were reviewed, as the management and reporting of exacerbations may conceivably vary in different countries, resulting in regional differences in exacerbation incidence in a manner similar to that observed for COPD.⁽⁴⁸⁾ Despite similar exacerbation incidences seen therein, the two fluticasone/formoterol studies were conducted across different territories. Unfortunately four of the published studies we examined did not detail the countries in which they were undertaken. However, from the available data no clear trends could be discerned to suggest that regional differences played a major role in influencing the occurrence of exacerbations observed.

ICS dose at study entry, a plausible surrogate for disease severity and/or treatment response⁽⁴⁹⁾ was also examined. Broadly speaking, two study groups were evident: those where patients were on ≤500–600 μg FP-e/day (which included both fluticasone/formoterol studies) and those in which ≤800–1000 μg FP-e/day was allowed. Although very few studies presented the actual ICS dose at study entry, for those which did, the highest exacerbation incidences were seen in FACET and van der Molen's studies, both of which fell into the higher dose ICS category.

However, the dose entry criteria were not necessarily an indicator of actual ICS dose levels at study entry; the mean pre-study ICS dose in Aalbers' study (ICS entry criterion 250–600 FP-e) was 368 μg/day, whereas in FACET an ICS entry criterion of ≤800 μg FP-e resulted in a mean baseline ICS dose of 419 μg/day. The high exacerbation incidences in the FACET and van der Molen studies may therefore be related to other aspects of their respective study designs, as discussed above, rather than prior ICS dose as a surrogate for disease severity.

Ethnicity was examined as exacerbations are more frequent in African American asthmatics than their white counterparts, even when concomitant medications⁽⁵⁰⁾ and socioeconomic factors⁽⁵¹⁾ are adjusted for. Whilst ethnicity data were limited, it is relevant that in two Cochrane studies (Busse et al. and Ilowite et al.) higher proportions of black patients were enrolled (7.7%–13.8%) than in the fluticasone/formoterol studies (0.4%–2.1%). These imbalances could plausibly have contributed to the exacerbation incidence differences observed. However, of all Cochrane studies, only Busse's and Ilowite's were conducted at US sites alone where proportions of black patients are likely to be higher than in multinational or European studies. Furthermore, even with enrollment of approximately 8%–14% black patients in Busse and Ilowite's studies, any increase in exacerbation incidence in the overall population would be expected to be modest based on the reported occurrence of exacerbations in long-term studies of African American asthmatics.^(52–54) As such, any inflation of overall exacerbation incidence differences between fluticasone/formoterol and other treatments in our review is likely to be very limited.

Concomitant use of other anti-asthma therapies was also reviewed, given the potential for add-on medications to further reduce the occurrence of exacerbations. Although use of other asthma medications was permitted by Price et al., Fitzgerald et al., and Aubier et al., none allowed the concomitant use of leukotriene modifiers and, whilst two studies^(39,44) permitted the use of anticholinergics, long-acting antimuscarinics do not appear to have been employed. Thus, there appear to be no important differences in allowed concomitant asthma medications between any of the trials reviewed.

Trial duration was examined as exacerbation incidence inevitably increases with time and because a reduced frequency of asthma exacerbations is seen in the summer months.^(55,56) Study 1 was of 14 months duration, and in Study 2 approximately 46% of patients were allocated to 12 months treatment (the remainder were treated for 6 months), ensuring exposure to annual peaks in exacerbation frequency for at least two-thirds of the 752 patients. In comparison, of the eleven published studies (excluding Price et al.), only OPTIMA and FACET were of 12 months duration and two others (Ilowite et al. and Bjermer et al.) approached 12 months duration (both 48 weeks). In these four studies, exacerbation incidences ranged from 14.2% to 29.5%. The remaining seven published studies were all of 24 to 28 weeks duration. Thus, four of the six studies in which the highest occurrences of exacerbations were reported were of at least 48 weeks duration. Given that the high event incidence in one of the shorter studies (van der Molen et al.: 24 weeks) appears to have been driven by the institution of OCS based on PEFR criteria, the importance of duration to event incidence becomes even more evident. The low event incidence in the fluticasone/formoterol studies is perhaps surprising in view of these observations.

The devices and formulations employed were examined given the association of the fine particle fraction (FPF) with pulmonary drug deposition^(57,58) and clinical outcomes.⁽⁵⁹⁾ In most Cochrane studies where specific devices/formulations were mandated, the Turbuhaler or Diskus/Accuhaler were used to administer dry powder formulations of budesonide/formoterol and fluticasone/salmeterol, respectively, or the corresponding monoproducts in combination. The FPFs (expressed as a percentage of nominal dose) of these products at relevant flow rates are approximately 20%–35% (Turbuhaler) and 15%–20% (Diskus).^(60,61) By comparison, the FPF of the fluticasone/formoterol HFA pMDI combination product is approximately 42%.⁽⁶⁰⁾ Thus, resulting differences in lung dose could potentially be implicated in the lower exacerbation occurrence seen in the fluticasone/formoterol studies.

In the two trials^(36,37) in which the budesonide/formoterol pMDI (FPF approximately 44%)⁽⁶²⁾ and fluticasone/salmeterol pMDI (FPF approximately 30%–35%)^(62,63) were employed, both of which have higher FPFs than their respective DPI products, no appreciable reduction in exacerbation incidence versus the corresponding DPI trial data were seen. However, other pharmaceutical factors can influence drug delivery from pMDIs and fast forceful plumes may increase impaction of drug in the throat thereby reducing lung deposition, negating any benefit of a high FPF.⁽⁶⁴⁾

Fluticasone/formoterol pMDI has a slower, longer lasting, and gentler plume than that of fluticasone/salmeterol,⁽⁶⁴⁾ which may plausibly be associated with in vivo differences in lung deposition and therefore also outcomes. No published plume data are available for budesonide/formoterol pMDI. Hence, the pharmaceutical characteristics of fluticasone/formoterol pMDI may have contributed to the exacerbation differences observed. However, given the clinical dose-response for both ICSs^(65–67) and LABAs⁽⁶⁸⁾ is relatively shallow, the apparent magnitude of exacerbation risk reduction with fluticasone/formoterol remains somewhat surprising.

Finally, treatment adherence was evaluated given its association with clinical outcomes.^(69,70) Adherence in the fluticasone/formoterol studies and the four Cochrane studies^(35–37,39) (excluding Price et al.) for which data were available was uniformly high. Of note in Price et al.'s real world study, adherence (based on prescriptions issued) with LABA was only 46% and with ICS only 64%. This low (but typically “real life”) level of adherence is likely to be an important contributory factor to the much higher exacerbation incidence seen therein.

In summary, our review of studies suggested that the real world nature of Price et al.'s study, the institution of OCS in response to PEFR criteria by van der Molen et al., and the recruitment of all but the most recurrent exacerbators in FACET are likely to have contributed significantly to the high event occurrence subsequently seen in those studies. In the remaining nine Cochrane-reviewed studies (including 15 treatment arms), there were no compelling design, device/formulation, population, or adherence-related characteristics to explain the considerably higher exacerbation incidence (in 13 of 15 treatment arms) than in both fluticasone/formoterol studies. Amongst these studies, no greater concordance was evident between the designs/populations of the fluticasone/formoterol studies and Aubier's and Fitzgerald's studies (in which low exacerbation incidences were seen), compared to the other studies reviewed.

We acknowledge the limitations of attempting to extricate and evaluate individual features of these studies from amongst several others. A further limitation of our review is that, despite all studies detailing exacerbation-related enrollment criteria, none detailed the actual prior annual exacerbation rates in the patients recruited. In addition, biomarker data, such as fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and blood/sputum eosinophils, which have been shown to be predictive of exacerbation risk^(71,72) and response to treatment,^(73–75) were also unavailable for review.

Despite the above limitations, the comparatively low exacerbation incidence in both fluticasone/formoterol studies remains somewhat surprising, even in view of the pharmaceutical characteristics of fluticasone/formoterol that may have contributed to our results; our review of Cochrane trials suggests an exacerbation incidence of 10%–15% to be more in keeping with expectations—assuming that all ICSs and LABAs have similar effects at an equipotent dose. However, a variety of recent data suggest that this may not be the case.

In their meta-analysis, Adams et al.⁽⁷⁶⁾ compared fluticasone versus budesonide or beclometasone at a 1:2 (i.e., equipotent) dose ratio. The odds ratio for patients on fluticasone experiencing an OCS exacerbation, compared to those on budesonide or beclometasone was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.53, 1.03). The corresponding odds ratios for withdrawal due to exacerbation and withdrawal due to lack of efficacy were 0.77 (0.54, 1.10) and 0.59 (0.33, 1.07), respectively. Thus the odds of each event were between 26% to 41% lower with fluticasone versus budesonide/beclometasone and in all three cases approached significance suggesting a trend in favor of fluticasone. No other similarly comprehensive meta-analyses are available, and sample sizes in individual studies have to date been too small to determine whether the trends suggested by Adams et al.'s data are reproducible.

Pharmacological differences between ICSs may explain the trend in the meta-analysis by Adams et al. Fluticasone is considerably more lipophilic than budesonide and beclometasone. It therefore exhibits slower dissolution through the aqueous airways surface fluid layer,^(77,78) prolonged contact with the airway epithelium, greater tissue binding,⁽⁷⁹⁾ and glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity⁽⁸⁰⁾ (hence enhanced tissue retention). Nonetheless, budesonide undergoes intracellular conjugation with fatty acids⁽⁸¹⁾ that, post-absorption, might be expected to mitigate the lesser lipophilicity of the parent compound. Thus differences in intra-pulmonary metabolism between fluticasone versus budesonide and beclometasone may also be implicated in any clinical differences between these ICSs.

All are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A family, with CYP 3A5 the predominant lung isoform.^(82,83) Importantly, the CYP 3A5 gene is polymorphic: only patients with at least one 3A5*1 allele express large amounts of functional protein, with approximately 45% of African Americans,⁽⁸⁴⁾ 23%–40% of Asians,⁽⁸⁴⁾ and 5%–15% of Caucasians (one report suggests 30%) expressing this allele.⁽⁸⁵⁾ In these patients, metabolic differences between different ICSs may however be very relevant, and may contribute to observed differences in ICS efficacy. Fluticasone, but not budesonide or beclometasone, is an extremely efficient inactivator of CYP 3A5, thereby inhibiting its own pulmonary metabolism.⁽⁸²⁾ Conversely, budesonide and beclometasone induce CYP 3A5,^(86,87) which may enhance their pulmonary degradation. Therefore, intrapulmonary metabolism of budesonide and beclometasone may plausibly contribute to corticosteroid resistance or insensitivity, observed in approximately 30% of asthmatics.^(88,89)

Turning to the comparison of LABAs, meta-analyses requested by the US Food and Drug Administration revealed that, when fixed combination fluticasone/salmeterol was compared to fluticasone monotherapy, there was no difference in the occurrence of asthma-related hospitalizations (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.60, 1.69),⁽⁹⁰⁾ whereas a 32% reduction in the odds of asthma-related hospitalization was seen when formoterol plus budesonide (as either a free or fixed combination) was compared to budesonide monotherapy (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.99).⁽⁹¹⁾

Mechanistic studies may explain the apparent difference in protection from exacerbations afforded by formoterol and salmeterol. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and TNFα, are increased in the airways of asthmatics,^(92,93) and impair the smooth muscle relaxant effects of LABAs.^(94,95) However, cytokines reduce the smooth muscle relaxation induced by salmeterol to a significantly greater extent (40%) than that induced by formoterol (16%).⁽⁹⁶⁾ Furthermore, corticosteroid administration completely reverses the cytokine-induced inhibition of formoterol effect, but has no effect on the inhibition of salmeterol effect.⁽⁹⁶⁾

These differential effects may result from differences in LABA molecular structure leading to different conformational states of the activated β2-adrenoceptor, hence differential activation of stimulatory and inhibitory G proteins (Gs and Gi, respectively).⁽⁹⁶⁾ It is plausible that salmeterol binding to the β₂-adrenoceptor activates Gi to a greater extent than formoterol, explaining both the lesser intrinsic efficacy of salmeterol, but also the non-reversal of cytokine-induced inhibition of salmeterol effect by corticosteroid,⁽⁹⁶⁾ since the Giα subunit is corticosteroid insensitive.⁽⁹⁷⁾ Clinically therefore, salmeterol may be more vulnerable than formoterol to inhibition by pro-inflammatory cytokines, levels of which may be further increased during asthma exacerbations.⁽⁹⁶⁾

A second potentially important difference between salmeterol and formoterol lies in their disposal from smooth muscle cells, and the effect of ICSs upon this disposal. The clearance of cationic drugs from airway smooth muscle cells is facilitated by cationic transporters, with organic cation transporter (OCT) 3 being the predominant species.⁽⁹⁸⁾ OCT3 is inhibited by corticosteroids;⁽⁹⁸⁾ thus ICS may inhibit the disposal of cationic formoterol from smooth muscle cells and thereby increase local tissue concentrations. This beneficial interaction is not seen for (lipophilic) salmeterol, as it is not a substrate for OCT3 and its disposal is not therefore slowed by corticosteroid co-administration.⁽⁹⁸⁾

Finally, cAMP production induced by formoterol is resistant to oxidative stress, whereas that induced by salmeterol is not;⁽⁹⁹⁾ furthermore, formoterol reverses corticosteroid insensitivity under conditions of oxidative stress whereas salmeterol does not.⁽⁹⁹⁾ It is hypothesized that these differences are due to inhibition of PI3Kδ signalling by formoterol but not salmeterol.⁽⁹⁹⁾ Thus, formoterol may confer greater clinical benefit than salmeterol under oxidative stress, for example in severe asthmatics or in asthmatic smokers.

In conclusion, a low incidence of exacerbations was seen in two fixed dose fluticasone/formoterol studies, which was considerably lower than in the majority of comparable published studies involving other combinations of ICS/LABAs. Whilst recognizing the limitations of this cross-trial comparison, it is plausible that the low event incidence with fluticasone/formoterol is related to each of its constituent components exhibiting favorable characteristics compared to other widely used drugs in their respective classes. Further head-to-head studies comparing fluticasone/formoterol to other ICS/LABAs are warranted to ascertain whether the observations in this cross-trial setting can be replicated.

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

The two long-term studies of fluticasone/formoterol presented here were sponsored by Skyepharma AG. Writing assistance in the preparation of this manuscript was provided by Ms. Karen Mower of Scientific Editorial. Mundipharma Research Limited provided financial support for the preparation of the manuscript, including all article processing charges. All named authors meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship for this manuscript, have been involved in the analysis and interpretation of the data, the writing and review of the manuscript, in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication, and have given final approval of the version to be published.

® FLUTIFORM is a registered trade mark of Jagotec AG and is used under license.

Author Disclosure Statement

Professor Alberto Papi has been on Scientific Advisory Boards, and has received grants and speaker fees from Mundipharma. Dr. Adel Mansur was Chief Investigator for Study 2; has contributed to paid advisory board meetings, received sponsorships to attend respiratory conferences and payment for talks by various pharmaceutical companies that include GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Napp Pharmaceuticals Limitedd, Novartis, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Aerocrinewas. Professor Tetyana Pertseva was an Investigator for Study 1. Dr Kirsten Kaiser is an employee of Skyepharma AG; Mrs Tammy McIver, Ms Birgit Grothe, and Dr Sanjeeva Dissanayake are employees of Mundipharma Research Limited.

Funding sources: The two long-term studies of fluticasone propionate/formoterol were sponsored by Skyepharma AG. Mundipharma Research Limited provided financial support for the preparation of the manuscript, including all article processing charges.

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