Spiriva HandiHaler tiotropium: Additional Phase IIIb data

A retrospective analysis of a subgroup of 2,012 low-risk patients with moderate to severe COPD in the double-blind, international Phase IIIb UPLIFT trial showed that Spiriva HandiHaler tiotropium significantly reduced mean annual rate of exacerbations over the 4-year trial by 28% vs. placebo (0.43 vs. 0.61; p<0.0001). Compared to placebo, Spiriva significantly reduced the time to first exacerbation by 24% and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score at 4 years by 3.63 points (p<0.0001 for both). Low-risk patients were defined as patients with baseline post-bronchodilator FEV1 >=50% predicted airflow limitation and <=1 exacerbation requiring oral steroid or antibiotic treatment in the previous year. Data were presented at the European Respiratory Society meeting in Vienna. ...