A novel inhaled drug appeared safe as a dual bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a series of proof-of-concept studies showed.
In COPD patients, nebulized RPL554 boosted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) by 17% versus placebo, with peak effects comparable to inhaled beta-2 agonists, Clive P. Page, PhD, of drugmaker Verona Pharma and King’s College London, and colleagues found.
In asthma patients, the drug boosted that measure of bronchodilation by 14% compared with placebo (P<0.0001), with effects maintained over repeat dosing, the researchers reported online in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
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