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Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol: a Review of Its Use in Patients with Asthma

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Abstract

Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (Relvar®) is a once-daily, fixed combination of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist (LABA), delivered via a dry powder inhaler (Ellipta®). It is approved for the treatment of asthma in the EU and Japan, and is the first once-daily ICS/LABA to be available for this indication. Fluticasone furoate is an enhanced-affinity glucocorticoid receptor agonist, with potent anti-inflammatory activity. Vilanterol produces rapid and prolonged bronchodilation. In phase III trials in adolescents and adults with various levels of asthma uncontrolled on ICS and/or ICS/LABA, fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 100/25 or 200/25 µg once daily (approved dosages in the EU) significantly improved pulmonary function compared with placebo or equivalent dosages of fluticasone furoate alone (in some trials) or fluticasone propionate. In similar trials, fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 100/25 µg once daily was as effective as fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250/50 µg twice daily in improving pulmonary function and significantly reduced the risk of severe asthma exacerbation relative to fluticasone furoate alone. In clinical trials, fluticasone furoate/vilanterol was generally well tolerated with fewer than 15 % of patients experiencing treatment-related adverse events, the most common of which were oral/oropharyngeal candidiasis, dysphonia, extrasystoles and cough. The tolerability profile of fluticasone furoate/vilanterol was generally similar to that of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol. Thus, fluticasone furoate/vilanterol is an effective and generally well tolerated ICS/LABA option for the treatment of uncontrolled asthma.

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Disclosure

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding. Yahiya Y. Syed is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer. During the peer review process, the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made by the author on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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    Yahiya Y. Syed

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Correspondence to Yahiya Y. Syed.

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The manuscript was reviewed by: A. Bodzenta-Lukaszyk, Department of Allergology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; M. Cazzola, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; A. H. Mansur, Respiratory Department, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

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Syed, Y.Y. Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol: a Review of Its Use in Patients with Asthma. Drugs 75, 407–418 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0354-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0354-5

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