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Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol dry-powder inhaler: a guide to its use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Abstract

The fixed combination of the corticosteroid fluticasone furoate with the long-acting β2-adrenergic agonist vilanterol is an effective and generally well tolerated inhalation agent for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (Relvar®, Breo®, Revinty®) inhaled once daily via a dry-powder inhaler (Ellipta®) provided rapid and sustained improvements in pulmonary function, which were at least as good as those achieved with twice-daily fluticasone propionate/salmeterol and, over the long term, reduced exacerbation rates in clinical trials in patients with moderate to very severe COPD. The added convenience of once- versus twice-daily administration may improve treatment adherence in some patients.

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Acknowledgments

The manuscript was reviewed by: A.F. Gleb, Department of Medicine, Lakewood Regional Medical Center, Lakewood, CA, and Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Medical Centre, Los Angeles, CA, USA; E.M. Kerwin, Clinical Research Institute of Southern Oregon, Medford, OR, USA.

Disclosure

This article was adapted from Drugs 2014;74(13):1509–22 [21] by a salaried employee of Adis/Springer, and was not supported by any external funding. During the peer review process, the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on the article. Changes resulting from comments received were made by the author on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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    Kate McKeage

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  1. Kate McKeage
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Correspondence to Kate McKeage.

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McKeage, K. Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol dry-powder inhaler: a guide to its use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Drugs Ther Perspect 31, 112–117 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-015-0195-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-015-0195-z

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