Triple Therapy vs. Dual Therapy with an Inhaled Corticosteroid and Long-Acting β-Agonist

Triple therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), and long-acting β-agonist (LABA) is recommended for patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have uncontrolled symptoms and risk for exacerbations despite treatment with a LABA/LAMA combination. In this industry-funded phase III trial, once-daily triple therapy with the ICS/LAMA/LABA combination of fluticasone, umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta), and vilanterol in a single device was compared with the ICS/LABA combination of twice-daily budesonide and formoterol in 1810 symptomatic COPD patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV₁] <50% or exacerbations (at least 2 moderate or 1 severe) during the p…