Budesonide/formoterol Plus Tiotropium Improves The Quality Of Life Of Patients With Severe COPD

Preliminary results from a double-blind, randomised, multicentre trial among 660 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show that budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort: AstraZeneca) plus tiotropium (Spiriva™: Boehringer Ingelheim Limited) significantly improves disease control and patients’ quality of life.1,2

The study known as CLIMB, compared 12 weeks treatment with budesonide/formoterol (400/12 mcg one inhalation twice-daily) plus tiotropium (18 µg one inhalation once daily) vs. tiotropium alone plus placebo.