Abstract
BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of nebulized glycopyrrolate inhalation solution (GLY), administered twice daily (BID) via the innovative eFlow(®) Closed System nebulizer (PARI Pharma GmbH, Starnberg, Germany), were demonstrated in two replicate, placebo-controlled, 12-week Phase III studies (GOLDEN 3 and GOLDEN 4). This report evaluates the efficacy and safety of GLY by baseline disease severity and age in the pooled GOLDEN 3 and GOLDEN 4 patient population (N=1,294). METHODS: Patients were grouped by baseline predicted post-bronchodilator FEV(1) (<50%, ≥50%) and age (<65, ≥65, ≥75 years). RESULTS: GLY (25 and 50 μg BID) produced significant improvements in trough FEV(1) in FEV(1)% predicted <50% (0.070 L, 0.079 L) and ≥50% (0.112 L, 0.126 L) subgroups (P<0.01 vs placebo), and in patients aged <65 (0.056 L, 0.086 L), ≥65 (0.140 L, 0.124 L), and ≥75 (0.144 L, 0.120 L) years (P<0.05 vs placebo). St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score was significantly improved with GLY 25 and 50 μg BID (P<0.05 vs placebo) in FEV(1)% predicted <50% (-3.237, -3.061) and ≥50% (-3.392, -2.322) and in <65 years (-3.447, -2.318) and ≥65 years (-3.053, -3.098) subgroups. In patients aged ≥75 years, GLY 25 μg reduced SGRQ total score by -6.278 units (P<0.01 vs placebo). The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar between GLY and placebo across all subgroups, and the overall incidence of cardiovascular events was low. CONCLUSIONS: Nebulized GLY improved lung function and health status and was well tolerated over 12 weeks in patients with moderate-to-very-severe COPD, irrespective of baseline disease severity and age. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02347761, NCT02347774.