Robert Wise, MD: Exacerbation Reduction with Aclidinium Bromide

ACSENT-COPD data, presented at the CHEST 2019 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, show long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) therapy aclidinium is beneficial in reducing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations in moderate to severe-progression patients, regardless of their exacerbation history.

To put into perspective the value of the key finding relative to other COPD symptom outcomes, MD Magazine® interviewed presenting author Robert Wise, MD, professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Wise put the exacerbation risk reduction value into perspective, and shared some additional thought on the benefit of the delivery system for aclidinium, and aclidinium bromide.

MD Mag: Is exacerbation risk reduction our absolute objective in COPD care?

Wise: One of the goals in COPD is to reduce shortness of breath, dyspnea, and to improve exercise capacity and quality of life. And indeed, improving FEV₁ through bronchodilation is a cornerstone for that.

Reducing exacerbations is also important, and is another goal of treatment of COPD—and aclidinium and formoterol are both effective in that regard.

MD Mag: Anything else you would like to add?

Wise: One of the things I wanted to emphasize is that aclidinium, and aclidinium and formoterol combination, come in a press air dispenser, which is a dry powder inhaler that has the benefit not only of containing multiple doses—but because of the way it's set up, it tells people whether they used it properly, whether they had the right inspiratory flow rates in order to disperse the powder.

And that's unique among delivery devices.