Mometasone furoate administered once daily is as effective as twice-daily administration for treatment of mild-to-moderate persistent asthma

Indacaterol acetate/glycopyrronium bromide/mometasone furoate: a combination therapy for asthma

Abstract:

Despite the wide range of available therapies, asthma remains uncontrolled in 40–65% of patients for a number of different reasons. Treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is recommended in the Global Initiative for Asthma 2021 report for patients across all asthma severities, with treatment options combining an ICS with a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) or a LABA and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), depending on disease severity. Based on this, the availability of single inhaler fixed-dose ICS/LABA/LAMA combination is a major need in asthma management. Indacaterol acetate/glycopyrronium bromide/mometasone furoate has been developed as a once-daily inhaled asthma treatment that combines an ICS (mometasone furoate), a LABA (indacaterol acetate) and a LAMA (glycopyrronium bromide) in a formulation delivered using the dry powder inhaler Breezhaler®, for patients with uncontrolled asthma on medium- or high-dose ICS/LABA. This article provides an overview of the different and complementary mechanisms of action, and the clinical effectiveness of the monocomponents of the indacaterol/glycopyrronium/mometasone furoate fixed combination, and highlights the benefits of using the three agents in combination in patients with moderate and severe asthma.

Direct and indirect bronchoprovocation tests in dose-response studies of inhaled corticosteroids: Past, present, and future directions

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are a mainstay of treatment in eosinophilic asthma. Many studies have explored the dose-response effect of different formulations of ICS through direct or indirect bronchoprovocation testing. Such studies are important for investigating efficacy and identifying the relative potency between formulations. However, lack of consistency in methods and designs has hindered the comparability of study findings. This review discusses current knowledge of the dose-response, or lack thereof, of different formulations of ICS through direct and indirect bronchoprovocation testing. The strengths and weaknesses of past studies inform recommendations for future methodological considerations in this field, such as utilizing a randomized double-blind crossover design, enrolling participants likely to respond to ICS therapy, and carefully selecting treatment durations and washout periods to assess incremental improvement in airway hyperresponsiveness while reducing the likelihood of a carryover effect.

Mometasone furoate (MF) improves lung function in pediatric asthma: A double-blind, randomized controlled dose-ranging trial of MF metered-dose inhaler

OBJECTIVES

Mometasone furoate (MF), delivered via dry-powder inhaler (DPI) QD in the evening (PM), is a treatment option for pediatric patients with asthma. We evaluated MF delivered via a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), in children ages 5-11 years with persistent asthma.

METHODS

This was a 12-week double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled trial. Pateints were randomized to the following treatments: MF-MDI 50 mcg BID, MF-MDI 100 mcg BID, MF-MDI 200 mcg BID, MF-DPI 100 mcg QD PM, and placebo. The primary analysis assessed MF-MDI doses versus placebo, on the change in %-predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁ ) from baseline to week-12; a secondary analysis compared MF-MDI 50 mcg BID versus MF-DPI 100 mcg QD PM. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored throughout the trial.

RESULTS

For change from baseline in %-predicted FEV₁ at week 12, least-squares (LS) mean differences from placebo were 3.87 (P = 0.019), 6.29 (P < 0.001), and 5.34 (P = 0.001) percentage-points for MF-MDI 50, 100, and 200 mcg BID, respectively. The LS mean difference for MF-MDI 50 mcg BID versus MF-DPI 100 mcg QD PM was 1.39 (P = 0.368). AE incidences were similar among all treatment groups. There were no reports of oropharyngeal candidiasis or dysphonia, which were AEs pre-specified for analysis,.

CONCLUSIONS

In children ages 5-11 years with persistent asthma, all three doses of MF-MDI (50, 100, and 200 mcg BID) demonstrated significant improvement in FEV₁ after 12 weeks of treatment. MF was generally well tolerated with no new safety concerns identified in this trial. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:310-318. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mometasone furoate nasal spray: a systematic review

The inflammatory diseases of the nose, rhino-pharynx and paranasal sinuses (allergic and non allergic rhinitis, NARES; rhinosinusitis with/without nasal polyposis, adenoidal hypertrophy with/without middle ear involvement) clinically manifest themselves with symptoms and complications severely affecting quality of life and health care expenditure.

Intranasal administration of corticosteroids, being fast, simple, and not requiring cooperation, is the preferred way to treat the patients, to optimize their quality of life, at the same time minimizing the risk of exacerbations and complications.

Among the different topical steroids available on the market, we performed a comparative analysis in terms of effectiveness and safety between mometasone furoate (MF) and its main competitors.

Searching through Pub Med and Google Scholar and using as entries “mometasone furoate”, “rhinitis”, “sinusitis”, “asthma”, “polyposis”, “otitis media with effusion”, and “adenoid hypertrophy” we found 344 articles, 300 of which met the eligibility criteria.

Taking into account relevance and date of publication, a sample of 40 articles was considered for the review.

MF effectiveness for treatment and/or prophylaxis of nasal symptoms in seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis has been fully established with a level of evidence Ia.

Even though it has not been assessed for MF in particular, topical steroids are the most appropriate treatment in mixed rhinitis and NARES.

In acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) evidences support their use as mono-therapy or as adjuvant to antibiotics for reducing the recurrence rate, and decrease the usage of related prescriptions and medical consultations.

In chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with Nasal polyposis, MF reduces polyps size, nasal congestion, improves quality of life and sense of smell and it is also effective in the treatment of daytime cough.

The topical use of MF has great efficacy in the management of adenoidal hypertrophy and otitis media of atopic children.

As regards the safety, MF has demonstrated an excellent safety profile: pregnant women can safely use it; no systemic effects on growth velocity and adrenal suppression have been shown; no changes in epithelial thickness or atrophy have been observed after long term administration of the drug.

Conclusions: MF has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of the inflammatory diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses; when compared to its competitors it shows a greater symptom control; it is a reliable treatment in the long term thanks not only to its proven efficacy, but also to its safety being on the market since more than 17 years.

Emerging corticosteroid agonists for the treatment of asthma

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is one of the most frequent chronic diseases worldwide. For decades, asthma has been treated with bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). However, adverse effects of ICS and disease heterogeneity necessitate improvements in the existing treatment regimes. Recently approved ICS show improved pharmocodynamic properties. Nevertheless, emerging drugs acting on the same receptor as the ICS, glucocorticoid receptor agonists (GRAs), are under current research. These drugs exhibit selective action on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which may improve their adverse effect profile, compared to the currently approved ICS that act unselectively on the GR.

AREAS COVERED

The present article reviews emerging GRAs for the treatment of asthma. Furthermore, the more recently approved ICS with improved safety profiles are reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

Compared with drugs acting on other pathological pathways, research in GRAs for asthma is sparse. However, a few promising agents acting selectively on the GR are currently under investigation and may reach approval for asthma treatment. These drugs exhibit improved pharmacodynamic properties due to selectivity in the mechanism of action, including promotion of transrepression and reduction of transactivation. However, competition from already approved ICS and other emerging treatment options may lead to cessation of development of the new GRAs.

Effect of common comparators in indirect comparison analysis of the effectiveness of different inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma

Purpose

Indirect comparison (IC) and direct comparison (DC) of four inhaled corticosteroid (CS) treatments for asthma were conducted, and the factors that may influence the results of IC were investigated. Among those factors, we focused on the effect of common comparator selection in the treatment of asthma, where little control group bias or placebo effect is expected.

Method

IC and DC were conducted using the change from baseline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1(L)) as an outcome parameter. Differences between inhaled CS were evaluated to compare the results of IC and DC. As a common comparator for IC, placebo (PLB) or mometasone (MOM) was selected. Whether the results of IC are affected by the selection of a common comparator and whether the results of IC and DC are consistent were examined.

Results

23 articles were identified by a literature search. Our results showed that ICs yielded results similar to DCs in the change from baseline of FEV1(L). No statistically significant difference was observed in inconsistency analysis between ICs and DCs. It was clinically and statistically confirmed that ICs with PLB and those with MOM did not differ in terms of the results of FEV1(L) analysis in this dataset.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that ICs among inhaled CS can deliver results consistent with those of DCs when using the change from baseline in FEV1(L) as an outcome parameter in asthma patients. It was also shown that using an active comparator has similar results if there is no effect of control group bias. It should be emphasized that the investigation of control group bias is a key factor in conducting relevant ICs so that an appropriate common comparator can be selected.

Effect of once-daily indacaterol maleate/mometasone furoate on exacerbation risk in adolescent and adult asthma: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the safety and efficacy of QMF149, a once-daily, fixed-dose combination of the long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) indacaterol maleate and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) mometasone furoate (MF) for the treatment of persistent asthma. The hypothesis was that QMF149 would not increase the risk of serious asthma exacerbations.

SETTING

174 research centres in nine countries.

PARTICIPANTS

1519 adolescents and adults with persistent asthma who were treated or qualified for treatment with combination LABA/ICS were randomised, and 1508 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomised to QMF149 (indacaterol maleate 500 µg/MF 400 µg) or MF (400 µg) once daily via Twisthaler inhalation device in a double-blind, parallel-group study for 6-21 months.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary end point was time to first serious asthma exacerbation (resulting in hospitalisation, intubation or death). The key secondary end point was annual rate of exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids.

RESULTS

Treatment with QMF149 resulted in no significant difference in time to first serious exacerbation compared to MF (2 (0.3%) vs 6 events (0.8%); difference -0.52 percentage point; 95% CI -1.25 to 0.21, p=0.160, HR=0.31; 95% CI 0.06 to 1.54, p=0.151). QMF149 significantly reduced the annual rate of exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids (rate ratio=0.71; 95% CI 0.55 to 0.90, p=0.005). Proportions of patients experiencing adverse events were similar across groups (74.0% in the QMF149 group and 73.4% in the MF group). Serious adverse events occurred in 4% and 5.8% of patients in the QMF149 and MF groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant difference was observed in the primary outcome of time to first serious asthma exacerbation in patients treated with QMF149 compared with patients treated with MF. Long-term treatment with QMF149 once daily had a favourable safety/efficacy profile in adolescent and adult patients with persistent asthma.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT00941798.

Placebo effect model in asthma clinical studies: longitudinal meta-analysis of forced expiratory volume in 1 second

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to describe the time course of the placebo effect in asthma and quantitatively investigate the affective factors of the placebo effect for the placebo response simulation during the asthma clinical study design.

METHODS

We conducted a systemic search of public data sources for the study-level forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) to build the placebo effect model for studies by oral or inhaled administrations simultaneously. The administration routes, types of inhalation device, mean patient age, mean male proportion, baseline FEV(1), disease severity, year of publication, inhaled corticosteroid status during the treatment, and dropout rate were tested as covariates.

RESULTS

There are 34 literature sources containing 178 mean values for FEV(1) presenting the individual observations from about 3,703 patients. The exponential models adequately described the time course of placebo effect with the typical value of the maximum placebo effect (P(max)) of 0.060 L. Dropout rate incorporated in the residual error model and the disease severity (mild to moderate and moderate to severe) at baseline were covariates that remained in the final model.

CONCLUSIONS

The placebo effect is adequately described by an exponential model over time. By incorporating the dropout rate in the residual error model, the estimation precision was improved. The model could predict the placebo response profile in mild to severe asthmatic patients for the asthma clinical study design and could also be a structure model of the placebo effect for the pure drug effect evaluation in the asthma clinical trials.

Efficacy and onset of action of mometasone furoate/formoterol and fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination treatment in subjects with persistent asthma

Background

Mometasone furoate/formoterol (MF/F) is a novel combination therapy for treatment of persistent asthma. This noninferiority trial compared the effects of MF/F and fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/S) combination therapies on pulmonary function and onset of action in subjects with persistent asthma.

Methods

Following a 2- to 4-week run-in period with MF administered via a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) 200 μg (delivered as 2 inhalations of MF-MDI 100 μg) twice daily (BID), subjects (aged ≥12 y) were randomized to MF/F-MDI 200/10 μg BID (delivered as 2 inhalations of MF/F-MDI 100/5 μg) or FP/S administered via a dry powder inhaler (DPI) 250/50 μg (delivered as 1 inhalation) BID for 12 weeks. The primary assessment was change from baseline to week 12 in area under the curve for forced expiratory volume in 1 second measured serially for 0-12 hours postdose (FEV₁ AUC_{0-12 h}). Secondary assessments included onset of action (change from baseline in FEV₁ at 5 minutes postdose on day 1) and patient-reported outcomes.

Results

722 subjects were randomized to MF/F-MDI (n = 371) or FP/S-DPI (n = 351). Mean FEV₁ AUC_{0-12 h} change from baseline at week 12 for MF/F-MDI and FP/S-DPI was 3.43 and 3.24 L × h, respectively (95% CI, -0.40 to 0.76). MF/F-MDI was associated with a 200-mL mean increase from baseline in FEV₁ at 5 minutes postdose on day 1, which was significantly larger than the 90-mL increase for FP/S-DPI (P < 0.001). The overall incidence of adverse events during the 12-week treatment period that were considered related to study therapy was similar in both groups (MF/F-MDI, 7.8% [n = 29]; FP/S-DPI, 8.3% [n = 29]).

Conclusions

The results of this 12-week study indicated that MF/F improves pulmonary function and asthma control similar to FP/S with a superior onset of action compared with FP/S. Both drugs were safe, improved asthma control, and demonstrated similar results for other secondary study endpoints.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00424008

Mometasone furoate in the management of asthma: a review

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have proven to be the most effective and essential therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma. The 2007 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines recommend ICS as preferred therapy for patients with mild to severe persistent asthma. Mometasone furoate (MF) is a relatively new ICS agent with high affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor. It is approved in the US for maintenance treatment of asthma for patients 4 years of age and older. It has been shown to be well tolerated with no significant adverse side effects observed in clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance. The efficacy of mometasone furoate has been established in large, well-designed studies. In patients with persistent asthma previously treated either with short-acting beta-agonists alone or twice-daily maintenance therapy with ICS, once-daily MF has been shown to be superior to placebo in improving lung function, symptom control, and quality of life; and has shown comparable efficacy compared with budesonide, beclomethasone, and fluticasone. Twice-daily dosing with MF has been demonstrated to successfully allow for reduction or elimination of oral corticosteroids in severe asthmatics.

Mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler for the treatment of asthma

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred initial treatment for this disorder. Mometasone furoate dry powder is an inhaled corticosteroid that is approved for once-daily treatment of asthma in both adults and children as young as 4 years.

AREAS COVERED

The goal of this paper is to review the clinical efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler for the treatment of asthma. A literature search using PubMed was done using the terms 'mometasone furoate', 'inhaled corticosteroid' and 'asthma', focusing on articles that highlighted clinical trials and addressed efficacy of the medication.

EXPERT OPINION

Mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler has an excellent safety and efficacy profile. For patients with persistent asthma who require treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid, mometasone furoate is an excellent therapeutic choice.

Updates on the use of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to compare and contrast the newer inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) ciclesonide with older ICSs in terms of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and how these affect comparative efficacy. In addition, clinical dosing strategies for ICSs including as-needed use will be explored.

RECENT FINDINGS

Ciclesonide has demonstrated similar efficacy to that of fluticasone propionate and mometasone furoate in equipotent doses with a potentially improved therapeutic index. Once-daily administration of ICSs is generally not as effective as twice-daily. Continuous administration of ICSs does not change the natural history of asthma in either children or adults. Long-term administration of medium dose ICSs does not increase the risk of cataracts or osteopenia in children and young adults. Studies of as-needed ICSs in mild persistent asthma in adults and children have demonstrated mixed results, with some showing equal efficacy to continuous therapy and others showing superiority of continuous therapy.

SUMMARY

Ciclesonide provides a newer ICS with favorable pharmacokinetics that may improve the therapeutic index, but assessment of its systemic effects such as growth await further studies. Continuous administration of ICSs in low to medium dose over many years is well tolerated. The use of as-needed ICSs in patients with mild persistent asthma is promising as a potential step-down therapy but awaits further studies.

Effects of inhaled mometasone furoate on growth velocity and adrenal function: a placebo-controlled trial in children 4-9 years old with mild persistent asthma

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of long-term mometasone furoate delivered via a dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) on growth velocity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in children with asthma.

STUDY DESIGN

Children aged 4-9 years with asthma (n = 187) were randomized to MF-DPI 100 μg (delivered dose; actuated dose is 110 μg) once daily in the morning (QD AM), 100 μg twice daily (BID), 200 μg QD AM, or placebo for 52 weeks followed by a 3-month follow-up period. The primary outcome was growth velocity calculated from stadiometric heights recorded at each visit. Secondary outcomes included serum and 12-h urinary cortisol, serum osteocalcin, and urinary N-telopeptide.

RESULTS

MF-DPI 100 μg QD AM treatment did not significantly affect growth velocity compared with placebo (-0.10 ± 0.31 cm/y, p = 0.76). When the effect of a total daily dose of 200 μg MF-DPI on growth velocity was examined, no significant effect was demonstrated for MF-DPI 100 μg BID compared with placebo (-0.64 ± 0.39 cm/y, p = 0.10), although the change in mean growth velocity with MF-DPI 200 μg QD AM reached statistical significance (-0.70 ± 0.29 cm/y, p = 0.02). The effects of all examined doses of MF-DPI on mean plasma cortisol levels were similar to cortisol changes seen in the placebo group, suggesting an absence of drug-related effects. No differences in 12-h urinary cortisol or other outcomes were observed between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

One year of treatment with a total daily dose of 100 μg of MF-DPI in the morning resulted in no significant difference, whereas a total daily dose of 200 μg of MF-DPI was associated with some changes in growth velocity when compared with placebo. The differences in growth velocity, and the absence of drug-related cortisol effects, support the use of a total daily dose of 100 μg of MF-DPI in children aged 4-9 years with mild persistent asthma.

Inhaled corticosteroid dosing: double for nothing?

Two recent trials from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's asthma clinical trials networks raise a concern about using double the dose of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as a positive control arm in clinical trials of add-on therapy. The literature evaluating the response to doubling the dose of an ICS is briefly reviewed. The vast majority of studies do not demonstrate a significant positive benefit from doubling the dose of an ICS but do show improvement with 4-fold increases that is equal to or greater than that of add-on long-acting bronchodilators. It is recommended that doubling the dose of an ICS no longer be considered a positive comparator arm in clinical trials, although it might be beneficial in individual patients.

Long-term safety of mometasone furoate/formoterol combination for treatment of patients with persistent asthma

Objective: The combination of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting β₂-agonist is recommended for treatment of patients with persistent asthma inadequately controlled on ICS monotherapy. This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term safety of mometasone furoate/formoterol (MF/F) administered through metered-dose inhaler (MDI) in patients with persistent asthma previously on medium- to high-dose ICS. Methods: This was a 52-week, randomized, multicenter, parallel-group, open-label, evaluator-blinded study. At baseline, 404 patients (aged >12 years) were stratified according to their previous ICS dose (medium or high), then randomized 2:1 to receive twice-daily treatment of MF/F (200/10 or 400/10 μg) or fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/S; 250/50 or 500/50 μg). The primary endpoint was the number and percentage of patients reporting any adverse event (AE). Additional safety evaluations included plasma cortisol 24-hour area under the curve (AUC_0–24h) and ocular changes. Pulmonary function, asthma symptoms, and use of rescue medication were monitored. Results: The incidence of >1 treatment-emergent AE was similar across treatment groups (MF/F 200/10 μg, 77.3% [n = 109]; FP/S 250/50 μg, 82.4% [n = 56]; MF/F 400/10 μg, 79.2% [n = 103]; FP/S 500/50 μg, 76.9% [n = 50]). Rates of treatment-related AEs were also similar across treatment groups (MF/F 200/10 μg, 28.4%; FP/S 250/50 μg, 23.5%; MF/F 400/10 μg, 23.1%; FP/S 500/50 μg, 20.0%). Headache (3.7%) and dysphonia (2.7%) were the most common treatment-related AEs overall. The nature and frequency of AEs and the decreases in plasma cortisol AUC_{0–24 h} observed with MF/F treatment were similar to those observed with FP/S treatment. Ocular events were rare (2–6% overall incidence among treatment groups); in particular, no posterior subcapsular cataracts were reported. Only three patients discontinued the study because of treatment-related ocular AEs (two for lens disorders in the MF/F 400/10 μg group; one for reduced visual acuity in the FP/S 250/50 μg group) and no asthma-related deaths occurred. Furthermore, MF/F showed numerical improvement in lung function and clinical benefits by reducing asthma symptoms and rescue medication use. Conclusions: One-year treatment with the new combination therapies -twice-daily MF/F-MDI 200/10 and 400/10 μg — is safe and well tolerated in patients with persistent asthma.

Mometasone furoate in children with mild to moderate persistent asthma: a review of the evidence

The high prevalence of asthma in pediatric patients underscores the need for effective and safe treatment in this population. Current treatment guidelines recommend inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) as a preferred treatment for the control of mild to moderate persistent asthma in patients of all ages, including young children. Clinical efficacy, systemic safety, and ease of use are desirable attributes of an ICS used to treat children with persistent asthma. Recently, mometasone furoate administered via a dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) 110 microg once daily in the evening (delivered dose of 100 microg) was approved by the US FDA for the maintenance treatment of asthma in children 4-11 years of age. Data from the clinical trial program for MF-DPI that establish the efficacy, long-term safety, and absence of systemic effects of the approved dosage in children with mild to moderate persistent asthma are reviewed. These findings indicate that once-daily dosing of MF-DPI in children aged 4-11 years significantly improves lung function and health-related quality of life while reducing rescue medication use and exacerbations despite previous treatment with other ICSs. MF-DPI is also well tolerated in children. Clinical trial results showed that, at the approved dosage, there are no effects on growth velocity or the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Results of pediatric studies are consistent with the clinical development program for adults and adolescents. In addition, once-daily dosing, established safety, and ease of use of MF-DPI may help to improve asthma management by addressing issues that inhibit proper adherence.

Asthma: Chronopharmacotherapy and the molecular clock

Bronchial asthma is characterized by chronic airways inflammation and reversible airflow limitation. In patients with asthma, symptoms generally worsen during the early hours of the morning, and pulmonary function often deteriorates at the same time, suggesting a role for chronopharmacotherapy. Several drugs for asthma have been developed based on chronopharmacology. Most medications employed for the chronotherapy of asthma are administered once at night with the goal of preventing chronic airway inflammation or development of airflow limitation. In addition to bronchodilators, the inhaled glucocorticosteroid ciclesonide is now available with once-daily dosing, which also improves patients' compliance. Numerous investigations have demonstrated the usefulness of chronotherapy for asthma, especially for patients with nocturnal asthma. This review focuses on chronotherapy of asthma, and also provides a molecular biological explanation for the influence of asthma medications on the clock genes.

Improved adherence with once-daily versus twice-daily dosing of mometasone furoate administered via a dry powder inhaler: a randomized open-label study

Background

Poor adherence with prescribed asthma medication is a major barrier to positive treatment outcomes. This study was designed to determine the effect of a once-daily administration of mometasone furoate administered via a dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) on treatment adherence compared with a twice-daily administration.

Methods

This was a 12-week open-label study designed to mimic an actual clinical setting in patients ≥12 years old with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma. Patients were randomized to receive MF-DPI 400 μg once-daily in the evening or MF-DPI 200 μg twice-daily. Adherence was assessed primarily using the number of actual administered doses reported from the device counter divided by the number of scheduled doses. Self-reports were also used to determine adherence. Health-related quality of life, healthcare resource utilization, and days missed from work or school were also reported.

Results

1233 patients were randomized. The mean adherence rates, as measured by the automatic dose counter, were significantly better (P < 0.001) with MF-DPI 400 μg once-daily in the evening (93.3%) than with MF-DPI 200 μg twice-daily (89.5%). Mean adherence rates based on self-reports were also significantly better (P < 0.001) with MF-DPI 400 μg QD PM (97.2%) than with MF-DPI 200 μg twice-daily (95.3%). Adherence rates were lower in adolescents (12-17 years old). Health-related quality of life improved by 20% in patients using MF-DPI once-daily in the evening and by 14% in patients using MF-DPI twice-daily. Very few (<8%) patients missed work/school.

Conclusion

Mean adherence rates were greater with a once-daily dosing regimen of MF-DPI than with a twice-daily dosing regimen.

This trial was completed prior to the ISMJE requirements for trial registration.

Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of mometasone furoate in adult Japanese patients with mild asthma: open-label clinical trial findings

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate administered via a dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) in Japanese patients with intermittent or mild persistent asthma who were not previously receiving inhaled corticosteroids.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was an 8-week open-label study conducted in Japanese patients > or =16 years of age with intermittent or mild persistent asthma. All patients provided informed written consent before baseline and were treated with MF-DPI 200 microg/day, taken as 100 microg twice daily (BID). Inhaled steroids other than the study drug are not used, the drugs used previously are continued, dose of concomitant drug may be reduced if symptoms are improved and no new drugs were allowed during the trial. The primary efficacy variable was the change from baseline in morning peak expiratory flow (AM PEF). Secondary efficacy variables were evening (PM) PEF, spirometric measurements of lung function, and subjective symptoms. Descriptive statistics and standard errors were calculated for each efficacy evaluation. The safety of MF-DPI treatment was evaluated by measuring adverse events (AEs) and laboratory tests.

RESULTS

Twenty patients received MF-DPI, and 19 patients (nine with intermittent asthma and 10 with mild persistent asthma) were included in the full analysis set (FAS). The mean AM PEF and PM PEF values increased by 9.1% (P < 0.0001) and 7.3% (P < 0.0001), respectively, in the FAS. Improvements in AM and PM PEF occurred as early as week 1 and were sustained throughout treatment. Improvements at week 8 in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity were 11.0% and 8.2%, respectively. Notable decreases occurred for subjective symptom scores. The reported AEs were mild to moderate in severity. Study limitations include the small sample size and open-label treatment. This study was planned as the first study of MF-DPI in Japanese mild asthma patients without receiving other inhaled steroids. In addition, the cost:benefit ratio of MF-DPI in patients with intermittent asthma was not addressed.

CONCLUSION

MF-DPI 100 microg BID is an effective treatment for Japanese patients with intermittent or mild persistent asthma.

Frequency of dosing and comparative doses of mometasone furoate: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To examine the evidence for the efficacy of once daily dosing of mometasone furoate (MF) and to establish the dose-response relationship for MF in asthma.

METHODS

Meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trials, identified through a Medline and EMBASE search, comparing once versus twice daily dosing with the same dose and/or comparing two different doses that presented data on measurements of clinical efficacy. Main outcome measures were FEV(1) change from baseline, PEF, withdrawals for any reason and treatment failure as defined by the authors.

RESULTS

Nine studies with 2533 subjects were identified, although not all had usable data for the different doses/schedules. There was no evidence of superiority of twice versus once daily dosing of MF with a pooled difference of 0.02 L (95% CI: -0.06-0.10) for FEV(1) change from baseline. 400 microg was superior to 200 microg with a pooled difference of 0.09 L (95% CI: 0.04-0.13) for FEV(1). Data on doses >400 microg/day were limited but did not support that 800 microg was superior to 400 microg.

CONCLUSIONS

For the outcome variables considered, once daily dosing of MF is as effective as twice daily dosing, which may be useful in improving compliance in the treatment of asthma. There was insufficient data to compute a dose-response curve for MF.

Mometasone furoate: an inhaled glucocorticoid for the management of asthma in adults and children

Mometasone furoate has been available for clinical use, starting with a dermatologic preparation, for nearly 20 years. An inhaled format of the drug for management of asthma had been in development during the last decade and has been available for clinical use for 6 years as a dry powder inhaler delivering either 100 mcg or 200 mcg per dose. It has a long half-life and is suitable for daily dosing. The drug is approved for use in the USA for the treatment of asthma in patients aged 4 years or over. Mometasone furoate is a topically potent glucocorticoid with a favorable risk-benefit profile. A wide variety of randomized clinical trials have shown the drug to have a clinically beneficial effect on asthma comparable to fluticasone propionate, and to permit the reduction or withdrawal of oral glucocorticoid therapy in patients with asthma. Mometasone furoate has approximately 1% oral bioavailability but does produce systemic glucocorticoid effects from the drug released from the lung and its metabolites. These effects are minimal when mometasone is used appropriately at low or moderate doses.

Time-dependent effects of inhaled corticosteroids on lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation in asthma

BACKGROUND

Exhaled nitric oxide (F(ENO)) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) are noninvasive markers that directly measure airway inflammation and may potentially be useful in assessing asthma control and response to therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the time-dependent effects of inhaled corticosteroids on F(ENO) and EBC markers concomitantly with lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

METHODS

Eleven steroid-naive adults with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma were treated with mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler, 400 microg/d, for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), the concentration of methacholine calculated to cause a 20% decline in FEV1 (PC20), F(ENO), EBC pH, and EBC nitrite measurements before, during, and after treatment were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

The mean (SEM) FEV1 increased from 3.01 (0.13) L (82% predicted) to 3.24 (0.18) L (87% predicted) by week 8 (P < .05). The PC20 level increased from 1.28 (0.31) mg/mL to 2.99 (0.51) mg/mL by treatment week 8 (P < .05) and remained relatively stable through washout week 4 (P < .05). The F(ENO) level decreased from 31.1 (4.1) ppb to 20.6 (4.5) ppb by treatment week 1 (P < .01), remained low through treatment week 8 (P < .01), then trended back to the baseline level by washout week 1 (P < .01). The median EBC pH increased from 7.81 (interquartile range, 7.49-8.09) to 8.02 (interquartile range, 7.87-8.12) by treatment week 4, but did not achieve statistical significance. The EBC nitrite level decreased from 17.6 (1.6) microM to 9.3 (0.9) microM by treatment week 8 (P < .01), and remained low throughout washout week 4 (P < .05). There was a negative correlation between F(ENO) and PC20 (Spearman rank correlation coefficient = -0.50, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The F(ENO) level responded the earliest to treatment and withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids, whereas changes in EBC markers were delayed but more sustained.

Influence of the Circadian System on Disease Severity

The severity of many diseases varies across the day and night. For example, adverse cardiovascular incidents peak in the morning, asthma is often worse at night and temporal lobe epileptic seizures are most prevalent in the afternoon. These patterns may be due to the day/night rhythm in environment and behavior, and/or endogenous circadian rhythms in physiology. Furthermore, chronic misalignment between the endogenous circadian timing system and the behavioral cycles could be a cause of increased risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers in shift workers. Here we describe the magnitude, relevance and potential biological basis of such daily changes in disease severity and of circadian/behavioral misalignment, and present how these insights may help in the development of appropriate chronotherapy.

Mometasone furoate: an effective anti-inflammatory with a well-defined safety and tolerability profile in the treatment of asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended as a controller medication in the most recent Global Initiative for Asthma and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute guidelines. Mometasone furoate (MF) is an effective, well-tolerated inhaled steroid and is indicated for the maintenance treatment of adult and adolescent patients (> or = 12 years) with persistent asthma. MF is approved for once or bid maintenance treatment of asthma (in patients previously receiving ICS or bronchodilators). Low systemic bioavailability and high relative binding affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor are properties of MF that allow for a favourable efficacy and tolerability profile. Inhaled MF has been shown to be an effective and well-tolerated controller medication for those patients with mild, moderate or severe persistent asthma. MF has recently been approved by the US regulatory authorities for use in children (4-11 years). Future developments include the combination of MF with the long-acting bronchodilators, formoterol and indacaterol, to provide additional options in the treatment of asthma.

Comparison of inhaled corticosteroids: an update

OBJECTIVE

To review the basis for the estimated comparative daily dosages of inhaled corticosteroids for children and adults that are presented in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Expert Panel Report 3; in addition, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic basis for potential clinical differences among inhaled corticosteroids is discussed.

DATA SOURCES

A complete MEDLINE search was conducted of human studies of asthma pharmacotherapy published between January 1, 2001, and March 15, 2006, followed by a PubMed search up until August 2008, using ciclesonide, inhaled corticosteroids, and pharmacokinetics as key words. Product information on each inhaled corticosteroid was also included.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Comparative clinical trials of inhaled corticosteroids and systematic reviews for efficacy comparisons were evaluated. Extensive literature reviews, meta-analyses, and selected clinical studies that illustrate or represent specific points of view were selected. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data extracted from previously published reviews and specific studies were included.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Pharmacodynamic characteristics (glucocorticoid receptor binding) and lung delivery determine the relative clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties (oral bioavailability, lung retention, systemic clearance) and determine comparative therapeutic index of the inhaled corticosteroids. Secondary pharmacokinetic differences (intracellular fatty acid esterification, high serum protein binding) that have been posited to improve duration of action and/or therapeutic index are unproven, and current comparative clinical trials do not support the hypotheses that they provide an advantage. Ultrafine particle meter-dose inhalers (MDIs) have not demonstrated superior asthma control or improved safety over older MDIs. All of the inhaled corticosteroids demonstrate efficacy with once-daily dosing, and all are more effective when dosed twice daily.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that all of the inhaled corticosteroids have sufficient therapeutic indexes to provide similar efficacy and safety in low to medium doses. Whether or not some of the newer inhaled corticosteroids offer any advantages at higher doses has yet to be determined.

Inhaled mometasone furoate improves health-related quality of life in patients with persistent asthma

Results from two clinical trials of mometasone furoate administered via a dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) were reviewed to evaluate the consistency of effects of MF-DPI administered once-daily in the evening (QD PM) or twice-daily (BID) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults with persistent asthma previously treated with inhaled corticosteroids. HRQOL data were collected from two 12-week, randomized, double-blind trials: in study 1 (n = 268), patients received MF-DPI 400 microg QD PM (1 inhalation), MF-DPI 200 microg BID, or placebo; in study 2 (n = 400), patients received MF-DPI 200 microg QD PM, MF-DPI 400 microg QD PM (1 inhalation), MF-DPI 200 microg BID, MF-DPI 400 microg QD PM (2 inhalations of 200 microg), or placebo. In both studies, HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-item Short Form (SF-36) and an asthma-specific module. MF-DPI was associated with consistent, statistically significant improvements in asthma-specific total scores, breathlessness, asthma concerns, and physical symptoms compared with placebo in both trials (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). MF-DPI improved SF-36 Physical Component Summary scores at all doses except 200 microg QD PM. In conclusion, the results from two placebo-controlled trials suggest that MF-DPI 400 microg/d, administered once or twice-daily, produces consistent, statistically, and clinically significant improvement in HRQOL measures in patients with persistent asthma.

Indacaterol provides sustained 24 h bronchodilation on once-daily dosing in asthma: a 7-day dose-ranging study

BACKGROUND

Indacaterol is a novel, once-daily beta(2)-agonist in development for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Studies were required to determine optimal dose(s) for continuing investigation.

OBJECTIVE

A dose-ranging study was undertaken to evaluate efficacy and safety of indacaterol.

METHODS

A total of 436 patients with persistent asthma receiving inhaled corticosteroids were randomized to 7 days treatment with once-daily indacaterol 50, 100, 200, or 400 microg via multi-dose dry-powder inhaler (MDDPI; Certihaler), indacaterol 400 microg via single-dose dry-powder inhaler (SDDPI), or placebo. Serial 24-h spirometry was performed on days 1 and 7. Vital signs, laboratory evaluations, and adverse events were monitored.

RESULTS

All doses of indacaterol increased the mean time-standardized area under the curve of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) from 22 to 24 h postdose (P <or= 0.001 vs placebo) on days 1 and 7, with clinically relevant treatment-placebo differences of 240, 260, 350, 300, and 380 ml on day 1 and 230, 220, 320, 250, and 270 ml on day 7 for indacaterol 50, 100, 200, and 400 microg via MDDPI and 400 microg via SDDPI, respectively. All doses increased mean FEV(1) (P < 0.05 vs placebo) from 5 min to 24 h postdose on days 1 and 7. All doses were well tolerated. Most adverse events were mild-to-moderate in severity: most frequently reported were respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders.

CONCLUSION

Once-daily dosing with indacaterol provided sustained 24-h bronchodilation in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma, with a satisfactory overall safety profile. Indacaterol 200 microg appears the optimum dose, offering the best efficacy/safety balance.

Mometasone furoate dry-powder inhaler for the control of persistent asthma

Mometasone furoate dry-powder inhaler (MF-DPI) is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) used for the treatment of persistent asthma in patients aged >or= 12 years. MF-DPI has low systemic bioavailability and high glucocorticoid receptor affinity compared with most other ICSs and modifies inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. MF-DPI, unlike other available ICSs, is approved for initiation as a once-daily in the afternoon (q.d. PM) regimen. Studies show that MF-DPI 200 or 400 microg q.d. PM treatment significantly improves lung function and symptom control in patients with mild, moderate or severe asthma. MF-DPI 400 microg q.d. PM is reported to be equivalent to fluticasone propionate 250 microg b.i.d. and beclometasone dipropionate 168 microg b.i.d. and more efficacious than budesonide 400 microg, b.i.d. or q.d. MF-DPI is generally well tolerated, with minimal effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler: a once-daily inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of persistent asthma

BACKGROUND

Mometasone furoate (MF), a potent synthetic inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with a high affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor, is approved for use in the treatment of asthma.

SCOPE

Publications reviewed in this article were identified via searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases using the terms 'mometasone furoate AND pharmacology' and 'mometasone furoate AND asthma AND clinical trial'. Data from abstracts presented at respiratory society meetings, and relevant background information, are also reviewed.

FINDINGS

In clinical studies, MF, administered by dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI), was effective in treating all severities of persistent asthma, improving pulmonary function, reducing asthma symptoms, and reducing or eliminating the need for oral corticosteroids. Once-daily dosing of MF-DPI was effective in patients with mild or moderate persistent asthma previously taking twice-daily regimens of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), and in patients taking only inhaled beta2-agonists for symptom relief. Once-daily dosing in the evening with MF-DPI 200 microg conferred a greater benefit than morning dosing with MF-DPI 200 microg. Patients with severe asthma who were dependent on oral corticosteroids (OCSs) and high doses of ICSs were able to achieve greater asthma control and reduce or even eliminate OCSs when switched to MF-DPI. In trials of up to 1 year in duration, MF-DPI was well tolerated, with the majority of adverse events considered mild or moderate in intensity. MF had low systemic bioavailability and no clinically significant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis suppression at therapeutic doses. The DPI device is a multiple-dose inhaler with a counter containing agglomerates of MF and lactose. Patients of all severities of persistent asthma were able to generate and maintain airflow profiles necessary to provide a uniform and accurate dose.

LIMITATIONS

Only one study evaluated both morning and evening administration of once-daily doses, and one of the comparative clinical trials was an open-label study.

CONCLUSION

Once-daily administration of MF-DPI 200-400 microg in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma effectively improved lung function and asthma control. In patients with severe persistent asthma dependent on oral corticosteroids, treatment with MF-DPI 400 microg BID permitted substantial reduction of oral corticosteroid use. All MF-DPI treatments were well tolerated and had minimal systemic effects.

Do airway clearance mechanisms influence the local and systemic effects of inhaled corticosteroids?

The role of airway clearance in inhaled drug therapy is complex. Disease-induced bronchoconstriction results in a central drug-deposition pattern where mucociliary clearance is most efficient. When drug-induced bronchodilation is achieved, deposition and uptake becomes more peripheral, and because there is less mucociliary clearance in the periphery, this will lead to an unintentional increase in lung exposure and enhance the risk of systemic side effects. In addition, mucociliary clearance is pathologically reduced in both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among inhaled corticosteroids, rate of dissolution and lung uptake differs considerably. For the slowly dissolving, lipophilic steroids, the contribution of mucociliary clearance to these findings appears significant, and variability in lung and systemic exposure resulting from variable mucociliary function appears to be amplified. In addition, dose optimisation of non-stable asthma becomes more complex. The present review highlights the impact of mucociliary clearance on inhaled corticosteroid disposition and identifies critical areas where more research is needed.

Chronobiology and chronotherapy of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma

Study of the chronobiology of allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA) and the chronopharmacology and chronotherapy of the medications used in their treatment began five decades ago. AR is an inflammatory disease of the upper airway tissue with hypersensitivity to specific environmental antigens, resulting in further local inflammation, vasomotor changes, and mucus hypersecretion. Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, and runny and itchy nose. Approximately 25% of children and 40% of adults in USA are affected by AR during one or more seasons of the year. The manifestation and severity of AR symptoms exhibit prominent 24-h variation; in most persons they are worse overnight or early in the morning and often comprise nighttime sleep, resulting in poor daytime quality of life, compromised school and work performance, and irritability and moodiness. BA is also an inflammatory medical condition of the lower airways characterized by hypersensitivity to specific environmental antigens, resulting in greater local inflammation as well as bronchoconstriction, vasomotor change, and mucus hypersecretion. In USA an estimated 6.5 million children and 15.7 million adults have BA. The onset and worsening of BA are signaled by chest wheeze and/or croupy cough and difficult and labored breathing. Like AR, BA is primarily a nighttime medical condition. AR is treated with H1-antagonist, decongestant, and anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid and leukotriene receptor antagonist and modifier) medications. Only H1-antagonist AR medications have been studied for their chronopharmacology and potential chronotherapy. BA is treated with some of the same medications and also theophylline and beta2-agonists. The chronopharmacology and chronotherapy of many classes of BA medications have been explored. This article reviews the rather extensive knowledge of the chronobiology of AR and BA and the chronopharmacology and chronotherapy of the various medications used in their treatment.

The efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate delivered via a dry powder inhaler for the treatment of asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids are the gold standard of daily therapy for effective control of all stages of persistent asthma. For this review of the new inhaled corticosteroid mometasone furoate, a MEDLINE/PubMed search using the terms "mometasone furoate AND asthma" found 57 articles, 17 of which presented data from efficacy and safety studies reviewed herein. In clinical trials, once-daily evening dosing of mometasone furoate delivered via dry powder inhaler (200 or 400 mu g/day) was effective in patients with mild to moderate asthma previously treated with short-acting beta2-agonists alone and in those previously maintained on inhaled corticosteroid therapy. In patients with severe asthma, mometasone furoate 400 mu g twice daily eliminated or reduced the need for oral prednisone while improving lung function, asthma symptoms, and quality of life. Clinical studies have shown that mometasone furoate is generally well tolerated and has minimal systemic activity at recommended doses. In conclusion, mometasone furoate provides primary care and specialty physicians with a safe, effective, and convenient option to meet the challenges of asthma management.

Effects of treatment with mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler in children with persistent asthma

BACKGROUND

Mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler (DPI) has been shown to effectively treat asthma in children.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2 dosing regimens of mometasone furoate DPI in the treatment of mild-to-moderate persistent asthma in children previously using inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs).

METHODS

A 12-week, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study evaluated 2 dosing regimens of mometasone furoate DPI (100 microg every evening and 100 microg twice daily) in 296 children 4 to 11 years old with asthma previously using ICSs. The primary efficacy variable was the change in percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) from baseline to end point. Secondary efficacy variables included absolute FEV1, forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% forced vital capacity, morning and evening peak expiratory flow, asthma symptom scores, albuterol use, nocturnal awakenings, response to therapy, and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

Mean changes from baseline at end point in predicted FEV1 were 4.73 and 5.52 percentage points for mometasone furoate DPI, 100 microg every evening and 100 microg twice daily, respectively, the difference of which was not significant, and -1.77 percentage points for placebo (P < or = .002). Significant improvements in secondary efficacy variables were also observed for both mometasone furoate DPI treatments over placebo. Both mometasone furoate DPI doses were well tolerated, and no significant differences were noted among the 3 treatment groups in adverse event reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

Both mometasone furoate DPI doses were well tolerated and significantly improved lung function, maintained effective asthma control, and improved quality of life in children with asthma.

Inhaled mometasone furoate: A review of its use in persistent asthma in adults and adolescents

Inhaled mometasone furoate (Asmanex) is a synthetic corticosteroid indicated for the first-line maintenance prophylactic therapy of persistent asthma in adults and adolescents. It is formulated for delivery via a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler (DPI) [Twisthaler].Inhaled mometasone furoate delivered by DPI is effective in treating patients with persistent asthma. It improves pulmonary function and health-related quality of life, reduces symptoms and decreases oral corticosteroid requirements in severe disease. It is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and is at least as clinically effective as other inhaled corticosteroids. Inhaled mometasone furoate is equally effective in controlling asthma when administered in two divided doses or as a single daily dose. Once-daily administration of mometasone furoate 200 microg in the evening was more effective than administration of the same dosage in the morning. The drug is well tolerated, with low systemic bioavailability and minimal systemic activity. Therefore, it is an effective and convenient option for controller therapy of persistent asthma in adults and adolescents.

The systemic safety of inhaled corticosteroid therapy: a focus on ciclesonide

OBJECTIVE

To review the potential systemic activity of ciclesonide and its active metabolite, desisobutyryl-ciclesonide, by evaluation of the effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function.

DATA SOURCES

EMBASE and MEDLINE searches using the keyword ciclesonide, without date restrictions, were conducted to identify published articles that related to clinical trials that included ciclesonide.

STUDY SELECTION

The primary articles that reported systemic safety data for ciclesonide were reviewed.

RESULTS

Ciclesonide (320-1,280 microg/d) demonstrated no detectable, clinically relevant effect on HPA axis function as evaluated by basal cortisol excretion measurements and dynamic stimulation tests. Furthermore, ciclesonide had no effect on the normal diurnal rhythm of endogenous cortisol secretion while simultaneously improving pulmonary function and reducing bronchial hyperresponsiveness. These results suggest that ciclesonide has a low systemic activity that may be attributable to unique pharmacologic properties, including a high degree of serum protein binding, a low oral bioavailability, and rapid systemic elimination, that reduce the level of systemically available pharmacologically active drug.

CONCLUSIONS

Even at the higher doses used to treat more severe cases of asthma, ciclesonide was observed to have no effect on HPA axis function. These data, in conjunction with the observed clinical efficacy, suggest that ciclesonide may have an improved therapeutic margin compared with some other currently available inhaled corticosteroid treatments and, therefore, the potential to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Inhaled mometasone furoate reduces oral prednisone usage and improves lung function in severe persistent asthma

OBJECTIVE

The reduction of oral prednisone use by mometasone furoate (MF) delivered by HFA-227 metered dose inhaler (MDI) was examined in oral corticosteroid (OCS)-dependent patients with severe persistent asthma.

METHODS

A 3-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n=123), followed by a 9-month open-label phase (n=120). The study was conducted at 26 medical centers in the United States. Patients were randomized to treatment with MF-MDI 400 or 800 microg twice-daily (bid) doses, or placebo in the double-blind trial. All patients received MF in the open-label phase.

RESULTS

At the endpoint of the double-blind trial, MF-MDI 400 and 800 microg bid reduced the daily OCS dose by 39.4% and 31.1%, respectively, while placebo increased the OCS dose by 107.2% (P<0.01). The OCS requirement was reduced by 50% or more in 63% and 60% of patients treated with MF-MDI 400 and 800 microg bid, respectively, compared with 14% of patients receiving placebo. After 12 weeks, despite prednisone reductions, pulmonary function, asthma symptoms, albuterol use, nocturnal awakenings, and physician-evaluated response to therapy also showed significant improvement with MF-MDI treatment compared with placebo. Further reductions in OCS requirements were achieved with long-term MF-MDI treatment in the open-label phase, with an overall 67% reduction in prednisone usage and 51% of patients completely eliminating prednisone usage by the 1-year time point.

CONCLUSION

MF delivered by HFA-227 MDI significantly reduces daily OCS use compared with placebo and facilitates elimination of OCS use in patients with severe persistent asthma.

Once-daily evening administration of mometasone furoate in asthma treatment initiation

BACKGROUND

In a previous study, a 200-microg once-daily evening dose of mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler (DPI) was effective in patients with asthma previously taking inhaled corticosteroids. No studies have been conducted to test the effect of a once-daily evening dose in patients previously using only short-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (SABAs) for symptom relief.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of mometasone furoate DPI administered once daily in the evening as initial controller therapy in patients previously using SABAs alone for asthma.

METHODS

Patients with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma from 18 US centers participated in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients received either mometasone furoate DPI, 200 microg, or placebo once daily in the evening. The primary efficacy variable was the change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second from baseline to the end point (last evaluable visit). Other measurements included forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75%, morning and evening peak expiratory flow, asthma symptoms, use of albuterol, nocturnal awakenings, physicians' evaluation of response to therapy, and time to asthma worsening.

RESULTS

At the end point, the mean increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second relative to baseline for the mometasone furoate DPI group of 0.43 L (16.8%) was significantly greater than that for the placebo group of 0.16 L (6.0%) (P < .01). Morning peak expiratory flow, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% also significantly improved with mometasone furoate DPI treatment relative to placebo (P < .01). Once-daily dosing with mometasone furoate DPI was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Mometasone furoate DPI (200 microg) administered once daily in the evening significantly improves pulmonary function in patients previously using SABAs alone for asthma control.

Benefit versus risk for oral, inhaled, and nasal glucocorticosteroids

Many factors affect the benefit-to-risk analysis of the use of the glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of allergic inflammation. For most patients the benefit-to-risk ratio favors topical over oral administration, but in severe disease oral administration may be required. It is clear from pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies that inhaled glucocorticosteroids in particular are absorbed into the systemic circulation and that they can have clinical adverse effects when given in high doses. Therefore, with inhaled and nasal glucocorticosteroids, the dose that will achieve the optimal benefit/risk ratio is the lowest dose that controls symptoms and prevents exacerbations requiring treatment with oral glucocorticosteroids. This optimal dose needs to be determined on an individual basis and is likely to vary as disease severity changes over time.

Effects of mometasone furoate given once daily in the evening on lung function and symptom control in persistent asthma

BACKGROUND

The chronobiology of asthma suggests that, for once-daily dosing, an evening dose may be the most effective treatment paradigm.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) administered once daily in the evening or twice daily in patients with asthma previously maintained on twice-daily regimens of inhaled corticosteroids.

METHODS

In this 12-week, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial, 268 subjects > or =12 years of age with inhaled corticosteroid-dependent asthma and baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) between 50% and 85% of predicted were randomized to receive treatment with MF-DPI 400 mug once daily in the evening, MF-DPI 200 mug twice daily, or placebo. The primary efficacy variable was mean change in FEV(1) from baseline to endpoint. Other lung function measures, asthma symptoms, quality of life, and rescue medication use also were assessed.

RESULTS

At endpoint, mean FEV(1) was significantly improved with both MF-DPI doses compared with placebo (p < 0.001). The 2 active treatment groups were statistically indistinguishable from each other. Secondary efficacy variables, including nocturnal awakenings, asthma worsenings, quality of life, and rescue medication use, were also significantly improved for both MF-DPI treatments compared with placebo. Both dosages were well tolerated; no clinically meaningful changes in laboratory values or vital signs were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

MF-DPI 400 mug once daily in the evening was as effective as MF-DPI 200 mug twice daily in improving pulmonary function, asthma symptoms, and quality of life compared with placebo in subjects previously using twice-daily regimens of an inhaled corticosteroid.

Effects of mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler and beclomethasone dipropionate hydrofluoroalkane and chlorofluorocarbon on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in asthmatic subjects

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) [400 mug] is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) that is effective in the treatment of asthma. MF-DPI has a low potential for suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis at its clinical dose. The effect of MF-DPI, 400 microg qd, on the HPA axis was compared to that of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) using hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants via metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) twice daily.

DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS

This randomized, third-party blind, parallel-group study compared the effects of MF-DPI 400 mug one puff qd in the morning (n = 18), HFA-BDP 200 microg two puffs MDI bid (n = 18), and CFC-BDP 400 microg two puffs MDI bid (n = 17) for 14 days on the area under the 24-h serum cortisol concentrations curve (AUC(0-24)) and on total 24-h urinary free cortisol excretion in mild asthmatic subjects. Effects on morning/evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) and on inhaled albuterol use were also assessed. Adverse events that occurred during or > or = 30 days after the study were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean decrease from baseline in the serum cortisol concentrations AUC(0-24) in the MF-DPI group was significantly less than in either the HFA-BDP (p = 0.024) or the CFC-BDP (p = 0.011) groups. Decreases in serum cortisol concentrations AUC(0-24) in the two BDP groups did not differ from one another. The MF-DPI group trended toward higher morning and evening PEF than either BDP group. Treatment-associated adverse events were reported by seven subjects in the MF-DPI group, vs one subject in the HFA-BDP and three subjects in the CFC-BDP groups; these were mild, and no subject discontinued treatment due to an adverse event.

CONCLUSIONS

Fourteen days of treatment with MF-DPI 400 microg qd was associated with a significantly lesser decrease in the serum cortisol concentrations AUC(0-24) compared with HFA-BDP 200 microg MDI or CFC-BDP 400 microg MDI bid.

Efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate administered once-daily in the evening in patients with persistent asthma dependent on inhaled corticosteroids

BACKGROUND

Once-daily dosing with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) may simplify asthma management and improve patient compliance. Since asthma is frequently worse at night, evening dosing appears to be a more obvious choice to accommodate the chronobiology of asthma than morning dosing.

OBJECTIVE

The primary study objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate (MF) dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) 400 microg qd PM (one 400 microg inhalation) with placebo for the treatment of asthma in patients previously dependent on twice a day (bid, bis in die) ICS therapy. We also compared different regimens of MF-DPI with each other and with placebo.

METHODS

This 12-week, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated lung function and asthma symptoms in 400 subjects with persistent asthma randomized to MF-DPI 200 microg qd (once a day, quaque die) PM, 400 microg qd PM as one inhalation from a 400 microg device, 400 microg qd PM as two inhalations from a 200 microg device, 200 microg twice daily (bid), or placebo. Evening doses were to be taken in the late afternoon or early evening, preferably before dinner time.

RESULTS

Mean changes from baseline at endpoint in FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 s) were similar for MF-DPI 400 microg qd PM (one inhalation; 0.41 L), MF-DPI 400 microg qd PM (2 inhalations; 0.49 L), MF-DPI 200 microg qd PM (0.41 L), and MF-DPI 200 microg bid (0.51 L); and all were significantly improved compared with placebo (0.16 L; p < 0.001). Secondary efficacy variables, including nocturnal awakenings and use of rescue albuterol, were also significantly improved with MF-DPI treatment compared with placebo. All treatments were generally safe and well tolerated, with adverse events of mild to moderate severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Once-daily evening dosing of MF-DPI at doses of 400 and 200 microg restored lung function and improved nocturnal and daytime symptom control in subjects with asthma previously dependent on bid ICS therapy. Comparable effectiveness of a total daily dose of 400 microg was demonstrated between once daily in the evening and twice-daily administration. The results also confirm the effectiveness of MF-DPI 200 microg qd PM, the lowest dose studied.

Protection by budesonide and fluticasone on allergen-induced airway responses after discontinuation of therapy

BACKGROUND

Treatment with inhaled steroids is an effective method of reducing bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation after allergen challenge. However, the duration of the protective effects of inhaled steroids after discontinuation of therapy has not been established.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the protective effect of 1 week of inhaled steroid therapy against inhaled allergen challenge 12 hours after discontinuation of therapy.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 26 asthmatic subjects (>18 years old) not using inhaled steroids were administered 200 microg of budesonide twice daily, 200 microg of fluticasone twice daily, or placebo twice daily for 1 week. Twelve hours after discontinuation of therapy, subjects were administered an inhaled allergen challenge. Each treatment period was separated by a 3-week washout period.

RESULTS

When compared with placebo (26% +/- 14%), there was a slight but significant protection against the allergen-induced early response after fluticasone treatment (19% +/- 10%, P = .001) but not after budesonide treatment (23% +/- 13%, P = .08). However, when the area under the curve for the early airway response was examined, there was no difference between the 2 drugs in the amount of protection ( P = .62). Partial protection was demonstrated against the late-response allergen-induced sputum eosinophilia with both treatments ( P = .001). By contrast, no protection was observed against allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness for either treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The protective effects of inhaled steroids against allergen-induced early responses, airway eosinophilia, and allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness are partially or completely lost as early as 12 hours after discontinuation of therapy.

Once-daily inhaled budesonide for the treatment of asthma: clinical evidence and pharmacokinetic explanation

BACKGROUND

Budesonide, a widely used inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with a favorable therapeutic ratio, is available via a dry powder inhaler (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) and as a suspension for nebulization (Pulmicort Respules).

METHODS

MEDLINE and an AstraZeneca database were searched to identify relevant controlled clinical trials published between 1986 and 2002 using the key words budesonide OR inhaled corticosteroid, AND once daily.

RESULTS

Thirty-four controlled clinical studies involving once-daily administration of budesonide to asthmatic patients were identified. Excluding long-term studies, this review presents data from 23 controlled studies for 4466 adults or adolescents and 1532 children with asthma and demonstrates efficacy of budesonide in both corticosteroid-naïve patients and patients previously treated with ICS. Once-daily administration of budesonide achieves clinical efficacy comparable with that of twice-daily regimens in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma and is equally effective when given in the morning or evening. Once-daily administration simplifies treatment regimens and may improve patient compliance. The tolerability profiles of budesonide once-daily via Turbuhaler or as budesonide inhalation suspension are good and comparable with those for twice-daily dosing.

CONCLUSIONS

Once-daily budesonide is effective and well tolerated as initial treatment for adults and children with mild asthma and as maintenance therapy in patients with more severe asthma once asthma control has been achieved.

Efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler vs fluticasone propionate metered-dose inhaler in asthma subjects previously using fluticasone propionate

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler (DPI) administered once daily in the evening with fluticasone propionate metered-dose inhaler (MDI) administered twice daily.

METHODS

An 8-week, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study compared mometasone furoate DPI, 400 microg every evening (1 puff daily), with fluticasone propionate MDI, two 125-microg puffs twice daily, in 167 adults and adolescents with moderate persistent asthma previously using fluticasone propionate. The primary efficacy variable was the change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) from baseline to the end point. Variables such as response to therapy and subject satisfaction with the inhaler devices were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Improvement in FEV1 was noted at the week 2 visit with both treatments. This improvement was maintained at the 4- and 8-week visits and at the end point for both groups. The mean percent change in FEV1 from baseline to the end point was 4.58% with mometasone furoate DPI and 6.98% with fluticasone propionate MDI (P = .35). At the end point, physicians rated 62% of the mometasone furoate DPI group as "improved" or "much improved" compared with 47% of the fluticasone propionate MDI group (P = .007). A significantly greater proportion of subjects in the mometasone furoate DPI group "liked the inhaler a lot" vs subjects in the fluticasone propionate MDI group (46.8% vs 22.4%; P = .01). Both treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Mometasone furoate DPI, 400 microg every evening, provided comparable efficacy as fluticasone propionate MDI, two 125-microg puffs twice daily, in subjects with moderate persistent asthma previously treated with fluticasone propionate.

Risk-benefit value of inhaled glucocorticoids: a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic perspective

Inhaled glucocorticoids induce therapeutic and adverse systemic effects via the same types of receptors. Analysis of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of inhaled glucocorticoids generates a risk-benefit value (RBV). Targeted efficacy with minimal adverse effects helps to quantify an appropriate RBV. High lung deposition/targeting, high receptor binding, longer pulmonary retention, and high lipid conjugation are among the pharmacokinetic parameters to be considered for improved efficacy of the compound. Low or negligible oral bioavailability, small particle size and inactive drug at the oropharynx, high plasma protein binding, rapid metabolism, high clearance, and lower systemic concentrations are associated with low risks for adverse effects. Inhaled glucocorticoid potency is enhanced by solution inhalers, which result in higher pulmonary deposition and minimize local adverse effects. These properties, among others, determine the efficacy and safety of inhaled glucocorticoids. Currently available inhaled glucocorticoids do not provide the complete pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters to optimize RBV, leaving room for improvement in the development of future agents.