The purpose of the research (or "knowledge gap" this research is designed to fill) is to
understand the science of how the combination therapy of 2 drugs (inhaled longacting
beta-agonists(LABA) and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), which are commonly used in chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, is better than each drug alone. ICS and LABA
both have antiinflammatory properties; that is, they dampen the inflammation in the cells of
the airways in the lungs. The combination of LABA and ICS has also been shown to improve
clinical effectiveness in asthma patients. The addition of a LABA to LOW doses of ICS has
been shown to be more clinically beneficial in asthma than the use of HIGH doses of ICS
alone. This has allowed a reduction in the total ICS dose and minimised the adverse side
effects of inhaled corticosteroids. Recent evidence suggests that the use of combination
therapy of LABA and ICS may also improve clinical effectiveness in COPD patients.
Investigators will address this hypothesis by examining the inflammation cells of COPD direct
from the site of disease (the airways) by looking at sputum/mucus. This research will build
on the existing knowledge of the science of how these drugs work in asthma and COPD and
allows us to understand the molecular science, which may support new future drug targets for
patients with COPD, which are greatly needed.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Imperial College London
Collaborator:
AstraZeneca
Treatments:
Budesonide Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination Formoterol Fumarate