AstraZeneca Launches Innovative Triple-combination Inhaler Budesonide/Glycopyrronium/Formoterol in China as a New Weapon Against COPD
Jan 12, 2020 17:56
CST Updated
17:52
AstraZeneca
Biopharmaceutical Manufacturer
On January 11, AstraZeneca’s novel triple therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate metered dose inhaler (Breztri® Aerosphere®), was officially launched in China. Utilizing innovative co-suspension delivery technology, this metered dose inhaler combines three active ingredients—budesonide (an inhaled corticosteroid, ICS), glycopyrronium (a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, LAMA), and formoterol fumarate (a long-acting beta2-agonist, LABA)—providing an important treatment option for patients with stable COPD.
Budesonide/Glycopyrronium/Formoterol Triple-Combination Inhalation Aerosol: “Cutting-Edge Technology” Facilitates COPD Management
Compared with dual therapy, Breztri® Aerosphere® offers multiple benefits for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Results from the KRONOS study, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, showed that budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol metered-dose inhaler significantly reduced the rate of moderate-to-severe exacerbations by 52% and prolonged the time to first moderate-to-severe exacerbation compared with dual bronchodilator therapy. Meanwhile, this medication has a rapid onset of action, provides sustained and significant improvements in lung function, and demonstrates a favorable safety profile.
Wang Chen, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Director of the Respiratory Center at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, and Lead Investigator in China for the Phase III KRONOS study, stated: “Reducing the disease burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a priority issue in China’s public health sector. The KRONOS study demonstrated that, compared with dual therapy, budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol pressurized metered-dose inhaler can rapidly and sustainably improve lung function and reduce the risk of exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD. Triple therapy will play a very important role in addressing the challenges of COPD in China, particularly acute exacerbations.”
Professor Kang Jian, Vice President of the Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association and Director of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, emphasized: “Inhalation therapy is the first-line treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The newly launched triple inhalation formulation contains three medications and can deliver appropriately sized drug particles to the small airways, achieving higher drug deposition in these regions. For patients with moderate-to-severe COPD who have had suboptimal responses to dual therapies and experience recurrent acute exacerbations, triple therapy may be considered.”
In China, most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are middle-aged and elderly individuals. Their use of inhaled medications is often constrained by factors such as insufficient inspiratory force to deliver the drug into the lungs and inconvenience in using and carrying the devices, thereby compromising the efficacy of maintenance therapy. Over more than 50 years of exploration, inhalation devices for COPD have undergone several iterations and updates. Professor Chen Rongchang, Head of the COPD Group of the Chinese Thoracic Society and Director of the Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, stated, “COPD is a disease primarily affecting the small airways, and the inhalation device is a key factor influencing treatment outcomes. The next-generation Bevespi Aerosphere® device, which employs co-suspension technology, addresses the shortcomings of traditional dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). It helps patients inhale more air, increases their deep inspiratory volume, and improves respiratory function and physical activity. Furthermore, compared with the concurrent use of multiple inhalers, treatment with a single inhalation device leads to better prognosis in COPD patients and enhances adherence.”
COPD Ranks as the Third Leading Cause of Death: Standardized Treatment to Prevent Acute Exacerbations
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in China, affecting nearly 100 million patients. Professor Shen Huahao, Deputy Chairman of the Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Director of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases at Zhejiang University, pointed out: “One in every seven people aged 40 and above in China has COPD, and the prevalence rate among those aged 20 and above is 8.6%. COPD is a ‘silent killer’; it presents no symptoms in its early stages and is often overlooked. Once symptoms appear, approximately 50% of lung function may already be lost, posing significant health risks. Therefore, early detection and treatment are crucial.”
COPD patients often experience hospitalizations due to sudden worsening of symptoms, which is a typical case of acute exacerbation in patients. Regarding acute exacerbations, Professor Sun Yongchang, Standing Committee Member and Secretary-General of the Chinese Thoracic Society, Deputy Leader of the COPD Study Group, explained: “Chinese patients actually experience acute exacerbations quite frequently, with an average of two episodes per year. However, many COPD patients have insufficient awareness of acute exacerbations. They often mistake them for minor colds, when in fact, these exacerbations can lead to severe consequences, including irreversible damage to lung function, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, reduced quality of life, higher risks of hospitalization, and increased treatment costs. More seriously, acute exacerbations significantly increase the risk of mortality. To prevent acute exacerbations, patients must prioritize standardized treatment during the stable phase.”
Professor Zhou Xin, Vice Chairman of the Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Academic Leader of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, emphasized: “Winter is a season with a high incidence of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, special attention should be paid during this period, and various measures can be taken to prevent acute exacerbations of COPD, such as smoking cessation and vaccination. In fact, like diabetes and hypertension, COPD is a chronic disease that requires long-term treatment. Only by adhering to standardized treatment can we effectively prevent and alleviate symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, reduce the frequency and severity of acute exacerbations, and prevent or delay the deterioration of lung function.”
Challenges and Opportunities Coexist: Multi-Party Collaboration for the Prevention and Control of COPD
China has a large population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with its mortality rate ranking third among the leading causes of death in residents, surpassed only by the combined mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and cancer. For the 100 million COPD patients in China, the financial burden on patients and their families is substantial, stemming from both the ongoing costs of pharmacological maintenance therapy and the high medical expenses associated with repeated hospitalizations due to acute exacerbations. Meanwhile, COPD’s characteristics of high prevalence, high disability rate, high case fatality rate, and high disease burden have made it a serious public health issue endangering public health. There are numerous challenges in COPD management in China; effective prevention and control require collaborative efforts from the government, society, healthcare providers, and patients to actively address these challenges and achieve optimized COPD management.
Chen Penggen, General Manager of the Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Business Unit at AstraZeneca China, stated, “Budesonide/Glycopyrronium/Formoterol Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler provides an important treatment option for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We look forward to innovative medicines and devices bringing effective disease control and reducing the risk of acute exacerbations for COPD patients. Facing the vast population of COPD patients in China who urgently need innovative treatment and management solutions, AstraZeneca will continue to be patient-centric, deepen its commitment to the respiratory field, and benefit patients.”
Launch Ceremony
Budesonide/Glycopyrronium/Formoterol Triple-Combination Inhalation Aerosol: “Cutting-Edge Technology” Facilitates COPD Management
Compared with dual therapy, Breztri® Aerosphere® offers multiple benefits for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Results from the KRONOS study, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, showed that budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol metered-dose inhaler significantly reduced the rate of moderate-to-severe exacerbations by 52% and prolonged the time to first moderate-to-severe exacerbation compared with dual bronchodilator therapy. Meanwhile, this medication has a rapid onset of action, provides sustained and significant improvements in lung function, and demonstrates a favorable safety profile.
Wang Chen, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Director of the Respiratory Center at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, and Lead Investigator in China for the Phase III KRONOS study, stated: “Reducing the disease burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a priority issue in China’s public health sector. The KRONOS study demonstrated that, compared with dual therapy, budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol pressurized metered-dose inhaler can rapidly and sustainably improve lung function and reduce the risk of exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD. Triple therapy will play a very important role in addressing the challenges of COPD in China, particularly acute exacerbations.”
Professor Kang Jian, Vice President of the Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association and Director of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, emphasized: “Inhalation therapy is the first-line treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The newly launched triple inhalation formulation contains three medications and can deliver appropriately sized drug particles to the small airways, achieving higher drug deposition in these regions. For patients with moderate-to-severe COPD who have had suboptimal responses to dual therapies and experience recurrent acute exacerbations, triple therapy may be considered.”
In China, most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are middle-aged and elderly individuals. Their use of inhaled medications is often constrained by factors such as insufficient inspiratory force to deliver the drug into the lungs and inconvenience in using and carrying the devices, thereby compromising the efficacy of maintenance therapy. Over more than 50 years of exploration, inhalation devices for COPD have undergone several iterations and updates. Professor Chen Rongchang, Head of the COPD Group of the Chinese Thoracic Society and Director of the Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, stated, “COPD is a disease primarily affecting the small airways, and the inhalation device is a key factor influencing treatment outcomes. The next-generation Bevespi Aerosphere® device, which employs co-suspension technology, addresses the shortcomings of traditional dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). It helps patients inhale more air, increases their deep inspiratory volume, and improves respiratory function and physical activity. Furthermore, compared with the concurrent use of multiple inhalers, treatment with a single inhalation device leads to better prognosis in COPD patients and enhances adherence.”
COPD Ranks as the Third Leading Cause of Death: Standardized Treatment to Prevent Acute Exacerbations
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in China, affecting nearly 100 million patients. Professor Shen Huahao, Deputy Chairman of the Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Director of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases at Zhejiang University, pointed out: “One in every seven people aged 40 and above in China has COPD, and the prevalence rate among those aged 20 and above is 8.6%. COPD is a ‘silent killer’; it presents no symptoms in its early stages and is often overlooked. Once symptoms appear, approximately 50% of lung function may already be lost, posing significant health risks. Therefore, early detection and treatment are crucial.”
COPD patients often experience hospitalizations due to sudden worsening of symptoms, which is a typical case of acute exacerbation in patients. Regarding acute exacerbations, Professor Sun Yongchang, Standing Committee Member and Secretary-General of the Chinese Thoracic Society, Deputy Leader of the COPD Study Group, explained: “Chinese patients actually experience acute exacerbations quite frequently, with an average of two episodes per year. However, many COPD patients have insufficient awareness of acute exacerbations. They often mistake them for minor colds, when in fact, these exacerbations can lead to severe consequences, including irreversible damage to lung function, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, reduced quality of life, higher risks of hospitalization, and increased treatment costs. More seriously, acute exacerbations significantly increase the risk of mortality. To prevent acute exacerbations, patients must prioritize standardized treatment during the stable phase.”
Professor Zhou Xin, Vice Chairman of the Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Academic Leader of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, emphasized: “Winter is a season with a high incidence of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, special attention should be paid during this period, and various measures can be taken to prevent acute exacerbations of COPD, such as smoking cessation and vaccination. In fact, like diabetes and hypertension, COPD is a chronic disease that requires long-term treatment. Only by adhering to standardized treatment can we effectively prevent and alleviate symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, reduce the frequency and severity of acute exacerbations, and prevent or delay the deterioration of lung function.”
Challenges and Opportunities Coexist: Multi-Party Collaboration for the Prevention and Control of COPD
China has a large population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with its mortality rate ranking third among the leading causes of death in residents, surpassed only by the combined mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and cancer. For the 100 million COPD patients in China, the financial burden on patients and their families is substantial, stemming from both the ongoing costs of pharmacological maintenance therapy and the high medical expenses associated with repeated hospitalizations due to acute exacerbations. Meanwhile, COPD’s characteristics of high prevalence, high disability rate, high case fatality rate, and high disease burden have made it a serious public health issue endangering public health. There are numerous challenges in COPD management in China; effective prevention and control require collaborative efforts from the government, society, healthcare providers, and patients to actively address these challenges and achieve optimized COPD management.
Chen Penggen, General Manager of the Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Business Unit at AstraZeneca China
Chen Penggen, General Manager of the Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Business Unit at AstraZeneca China, stated, “Budesonide/Glycopyrronium/Formoterol Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler provides an important treatment option for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We look forward to innovative medicines and devices bringing effective disease control and reducing the risk of acute exacerbations for COPD patients. Facing the vast population of COPD patients in China who urgently need innovative treatment and management solutions, AstraZeneca will continue to be patient-centric, deepen its commitment to the respiratory field, and benefit patients.”