GlaxoSmithKline announced new data supporting Seretide (salmeterol / fluticasone propionate) in the maintenance of COPD have been released at the 100th annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society in Orlando.

This new evidence follows the approval of Seretide in the European Union last May and its launch in the US in January 2004 for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Findings from the COPD study show an increase in patient symptoms on discontinuation of Seretide. These findings are complemented by new results from asthma studies, which revealed a loss of asthma control when Seretide was discontinued, showing that maintenance treatment with Seretide provides greater disease control than treatment with the individual components alone.

Findings from the COPD study COSMIC 1, conducted in 373 patients, show that there is a key role for the inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone propionate (FP), in combination with established long acting beta2-agonist (LABA), salmeterol (S) as Seretide in maintaining stable COPD. The trial examined the response of patients with COPD to Seretide and to the subsequent withdrawal of FP. Results showed that patients experienced an immediate change in their health status with the withdrawal of FP, including:
o increased shortness of breath within 2 days
o a sustained decrease in FEV1
o an increase in disturbed night sleeps
o an increase in mild exacerbations

These results indicate that the addition of FP to salmeterol as Seretide is more effective than salmeterol in maintaining control of symptoms, improving lung function and delaying exacerbations, giving patients important treatment benefits compared with LABA alone and providing further support for combination therapy as the optimal treatment for COPD.

"These new data provide a strong case for the use of salmeterol / fluticasone propionate combination in COPD. The data clearly demonstrate the contribution fluticasone propionate has in maintaining disease stability, as well as reducing distressing symptoms such as breathlessness and night-time waking," said Professor EM Wouters, of University Hospital Maastricht in the Netherlands.