Spiriva a possible alternative therapy for adults with poorly controlled asthma; Daxas reduces harmful lung attacks, ERS conference hears

A drug commonly used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) successfully treats adults whose asthma is not well-controlled on low doses of inhaled corticosteroids, reported researchers supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health.

"This study's results show that tiotropium bromide (marketed by German independent drug major Boehringer Ingelheim and global behemoth Pfizer [NYSE: PFE] as Spiriva) might provide an alternative to other asthma treatments, expanding options available to patients for controlling their asthma," said NHLBI Acting Director Susan Shurin, noting that "the goal in managing asthma is to prevent symptoms so patients can pursue activities to the fullest."

According to the study, adding tiotropium bromide to low doses of inhaled corticosteroids is more effective at controlling asthma than doubling inhaled corticosteroids alone, and as effective as adding the long-acting beta agonist salmeterol. The results were published on-line yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in Barcelona, Spain.