The studies were designed to examine the efficacy and safety of three inhaled doses each of the compound over 14 days in patients with asthma who were controlled on inhaled corticosteroids.
In the studies, a GSK-discovered compound and a Theravance-discovered compound, each given once daily, achieved clinically significant increases in bronchodilation at least equivalent to salmeterol given twice daily. Both compounds exhibited a pharmacodynamic profile similar to other inhaled long-acting Beta2 agonist compounds (LABAs), with little impact on heart rate.
The goal of the collaboration between Theravance and GSK is to develop a once-a-day inhaled combination medicine comprised of a LABA and a corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.