Triple-Therapy Inhaler for Asthma

For patients whose asthma is not well controlled on an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a long-acting β₂-agonist (LABA), current guidelines recommend adding a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) (see Figure 1). Previous trials have shown that doing so improves lung function, but does it also reduce severe exacerbation rates?

Researchers conducted two industry-sponsored, randomized trials evaluating budesonide–glycopyrronium–formoterol compared with budesonide–formoterol in adolescents and adults who had uncontrolled asthma despite ICS–LABA therapy. All 4300 patients received their study treatment in a single metered-dose inhaler for 6 to 12 months.