The safety and efficacy of BREO ELLIPTA were evaluated in more than 24,000 subjects with COPD. The development program included 4 confirmatory trials of 6 and 12 months’ duration, three 12-week active comparator trials with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg, 1 long-term trial, and dose-ranging trials of shorter duration. The efficacy of BREO ELLIPTA is based primarily on the dose-ranging trials and the 4 confirmatory trials described below.
Dose Selection for Vilanterol
Dose selection for vilanterol in COPD was supported by a 28-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial evaluating 5 doses of vilanterol (3 to 50 mcg) or placebo dosed in the morning in 602 subjects with COPD. Results demonstrated dose-related increases from baseline in FEV 1 at Day 1 and Day 28
Least Squares (LS) Mean Change from Baseline in Postdose Serial FEV 1 (0-24 h) (mL) on Days 1 and 28
The differences in trough FEV 1 on Day 28 from placebo for the 3-, 6.25-, 12.5-, 25-, and 50-mcg doses were 92 mL (95% CI: 39, 144), 98 mL (95% CI: 46, 150), 110 mL (95% CI: 57, 162), 137 mL (95% CI: 85, 190), and 165 mL (95% CI: 112, 217), respectively. These results supported the evaluation of vilanterol 25 mcg once daily in the confirmatory trials for COPD.
Dose Selection for Fluticasone Furoate
Dose selection of fluticasone furoate for Phase 3 trials in subjects with COPD was based on dose-ranging trials conducted in subjects with asthma; these trials are described in detail below [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2)] .
Confirmatory Trials
The 4 confirmatory trials evaluated the efficacy of BREO ELLIPTA on lung function (Trials 1 and 2) and exacerbations (Trials 3 and 4).
Lung Function: Trials 1 and 2 were 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials designed to evaluate the efficacy of BREO ELLIPTA on lung function in subjects with COPD. In Trial 1, subjects were randomized to BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, BREO ELLIPTA 200/25, fluticasone furoate 100 mcg, fluticasone furoate 200 mcg, vilanterol 25 mcg, and placebo. In Trial 2, subjects were randomized to BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 50 mcg/25 mcg, fluticasone furoate 100 mcg, vilanterol 25 mcg, and placebo. All treatments were administered as 1 inhalation once daily.
Of the 2,254 patients, 70% were male and 84% were white. They had a mean age of 62 years and an average smoking history of 44 pack years, with 54% identified as current smokers. At screening, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 48% (range: 14% to 87%), mean postbronchodilator FEV 1/FVC ratio was 47% (range: 17% to 88%), and the mean percent reversibility was 14% (range: -41% to 152%).
The co-primary efficacy variables in both trials were weighted mean FEV 1 (0 to 4 hours) postdose on Day 168 and change from baseline in trough FEV 1 on Day 169 (the mean of the FEV 1 values obtained 23 and 24 hours after the final dose on Day 168). The weighted mean comparison of the fluticasone furoate/vilanterol combination with fluticasone furoate was assessed to evaluate the contribution of vilanterol to BREO ELLIPTA. The trough FEV 1 comparison of the fluticasone furoate/vilanterol combination with vilanterol was assessed to evaluate the contribution of fluticasone furoate to BREO ELLIPTA.
BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 demonstrated a larger increase in the weighted mean FEV 1 (0 to 4 hours) relative to placebo and fluticasone furoate 100 mcg at Day 168 ( Table 5).
Table 5. Least Squares Mean Change from Baseline in Weighted Mean FEV 1 (0-4 h) and Trough FEV 1 at 6 Months
a At Day 168.
b At Day 169.
Treatment
n
Weighted Mean FEV 1 (0-4 h) a (mL)
Trough FEV 1 b (mL)
Difference from
Difference from
Placebo
(95% CI)
Fluticasone Furoate
100 mcg
(95% CI)
Fluticasone Furoate
200 mcg
(95% CI)
Placebo (95% CI)
Vilanterol
25 mcg
(95% CI)
Trial 1
BREO ELLIPTA 100/25
204
214
(161, 266)
168
(116, 220)
––
144
(91, 197)
45
(-8, 97)
BREO ELLIPTA 200/25
205
209
(157, 261)
––
168
(117, 219)
131
(80, 183)
32
(-19, 83)
Trial 2
BREO ELLIPTA 100/25
206
173
(123, 224)
120
(70, 170)
––
115
(60, 169)
48
(-6, 102)
Serial spirometric evaluations were performed predose and up to 4 hours after dosing. Results from Trial 1 at Day 1 and Day 168 are shown in Figure 4. Similar results were seen in Trial 2 (not shown).
The second co-primary variable was change from baseline in trough FEV 1 following the final treatment day. At Day 169, both Trials 1 and 2 demonstrated significant increases in trough FEV 1 for all strengths of the fluticasone furoate/vilanterol combination compared with placebo ( Table 5). The comparison of BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 with vilanterol did not achieve statistical significance ( Table 5).
Trials 1 and 2 evaluated FEV 1 as a secondary endpoint. Peak FEV 1 was defined as the maximum postdose FEV 1 recorded within 4 hours after the first dose of trial medicine on Day 1 (measurements recorded at 5, 15, and 30 minutes and 1, 2, and 4 hours). In both trials, differences in mean change from baseline in peak FEV 1 were observed for the groups receiving BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 compared with placebo (152 and 139 mL, respectively). The median time to onset, defined as a 100-mL increase from baseline in FEV 1, was 16 minutes in subjects receiving BREO ELLIPTA 100/25.
Exacerbations: Trials 3 and 4 were randomized, double-blind, 52-week trials designed to evaluate the effect of BREO ELLIPTA on the rate of moderate and severe COPD exacerbations. All subjects were treated with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg twice daily during a 4-week run-in period prior to being randomly assigned to 1 of the following treatment groups: BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, BREO ELLIPTA 200/25, fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 50 mcg/25 mcg, or vilanterol 25 mcg.
The primary efficacy variable in both trials was the annual rate of moderate/severe exacerbations. The comparison of the fluticasone furoate/vilanterol combination with vilanterol was assessed to evaluate the contribution of fluticasone furoate to BREO ELLIPTA. In these 2 trials, exacerbations were defined as worsening of 2 or more major symptoms (dyspnea, sputum volume, and sputum purulence) or worsening of any 1 major symptom together with any 1 of the following minor symptoms: sore throat, colds (nasal discharge and/or nasal congestion), fever without other cause, and increased cough or wheeze for at least 2 consecutive days. COPD exacerbations were considered to be of moderate severity if treatment with systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics was required and were considered to be severe if hospitalization was required.
Trials 3 and 4 included 3,255 subjects, of which 57% were male and 85% were white. They had a mean age of 64 years and an average smoking history of 46 pack years, with 44% identified as current smokers. At screening, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 45% (range: 12% to 91%), and mean postbronchodilator FEV 1/FVC ratio was 46% (range: 17% to 81%), indicating that the subject population had moderate to very severely impaired airflow obstruction. The mean percent reversibility was 15% (range: -65% to 313%).
Subjects treated with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 had a lower annual rate of moderate/severe COPD exacerbations compared with vilanterol in both trials ( Table 6).
Table 6. Moderate and Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations
Treatment
n
Mean Annual Rate
(exacerbations/year)
Ratio vs. Vilanterol
95% CI
Trial 3
BREO ELLIPTA 100/25
403
0.90
0.79
0.64, 0.97
BREO ELLIPTA 200/25
409
0.79
0.69
0.56, 0.85
Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 50 mcg/25 mcg
412
0.92
0.81
0.66, 0.99
Vilanterol 25 mcg
409
1.14
––
––
Trial 4
BREO ELLIPTA 100/25
403
0.70
0.66
0.54, 0.81
BREO ELLIPTA 200/25
402
0.90
0.85
0.70, 1.04
Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 50 mcg/25 mcg
408
0.92
0.87
0.72, 1.06
Vilanterol 25 mcg
409
1.05
––
Comparator Trials
Three 12-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy trials were conducted with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 once daily versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg twice daily to evaluate the efficacy of serial lung function of BREO ELLIPTA in subjects with COPD. The primary endpoint of each study was change from baseline in weighted mean FEV 1 (0 to 24 hours) on Day 84. Of the 519 patients in Trial 5, 64% were male and 97% were white; mean age was 61 years; average smoking history was 40 pack years, with 55% identified as current smokers. At screening in the treatment group using BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 48% (range: 19% to 70%), the mean (SD) FEV 1/FVC ratio was 0.51 (0.11), and the mean percent reversibility was 11% (range: -12% to 83%). At screening in the treatment group using fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 47% (range: 14% to 71%), the mean (SD) FEV 1/FVC ratio was 0.49 (0.10), and the mean percent reversibility was 11% (range: -13% to 50%).
Of the 511 patients in Trial 6, 68% were male and 94% were white; mean age was 62 years; average smoking history was 35 pack years, with 52% identified as current smokers. At screening in the treatment group using BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 48% (range: 18% to 70%), the mean (SD) FEV 1/FVC ratio was 0.51 (0.10), and the mean percent reversibility was 12% (range: -56% to 77%). At screening in the treatment group using fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 49% (range: 15% to 70%), the mean (SD) FEV 1/FVC ratio was 0.50 (0.10), and the mean percent reversibility was 12% (range: -66% to 72%).
Of the 828 patients in Trial 7, 72% were male and 98% were white; mean age was 61 years; average smoking history was 38 pack years, with 60% identified as current smokers. At screening in the treatment group using BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 48% (range: 18% to 70%), the mean (SD) FEV 1/FVC ratio was 0.52 (0.10), and the mean percent reversibility was 12% (range: -26% to 84%). At screening in the treatment group using fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg, the mean postbronchodilator percent predicted FEV 1 was 48% (range: 16% to 70%), the mean (SD) FEV 1/FVC ratio was 0.51 (0.10), and the mean percent reversibility was 12% (range: -15% to 67%).
In Trial 5, the mean (SE) change from baseline in weighted mean FEV 1 (0 to 24 hours) with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 was 174 (15) mL compared with 94 (16) mL with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg (treatment difference 80 mL; 95% CI: 37, 124; P<0.001). In Trials 6 and 7, the mean (SE) change from baseline in weighted mean FEV 1 (0 to 24 hours) with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 was 142 (18) mL and 168 (12) mL, respectively, compared with 114 (18) mL and 142 (12) mL, respectively, for fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg (Trial 6 treatment difference 29 mL; 95% CI: -22, 80; P = 0.267; Trial 7 treatment difference 25 mL; 95% CI: -8, 59; P = 0.137).
Mortality Trial
A randomized, double-blind, multicenter, multinational trial prospectively evaluated the efficacy of BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 compared with placebo on survival. The trial was event-driven and patients were followed until a sufficient number of deaths occurred. In this trial, 16,568 subjects aged 40 to 80 years received BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 (n = 4,140), fluticasone furoate 100 mcg (n = 4,157), vilanterol 25 mcg (n = 4,140), or placebo (n = 4,131). Subjects were treated for up to 4 years, with a median treatment duration of 1.5 years. Median duration of follow-up for the endpoint of survival was 1.8 years for all treatment groups. All subjects had COPD with moderate airflow limitation (≥50% and ≤70% predicted FEV 1) and either had a history of, or were at risk of, cardiovascular disease. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Secondary efficacy endpoints included the rate of decline in FEV 1, annual rate of moderate/severe COPD exacerbations, and health-related quality of life as measured by the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD patients (SGRQ-C).
Survival: Survival with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 was not significantly improved compared with placebo (hazard ratio 0.88; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.04). Mortality per 100 patient-years was 3.1 for BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, 3.5 for placebo, 3.2 for fluticasone furoate, and 3.4 for vilanterol.
Lung Function: A reduction of 8 mL/year was estimated on-treatment for BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 compared with placebo in the rate of lung function decline as measured by FEV 1 (95% CI: 1, 15).
Exacerbations: Treatment with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 reduced the on-treatment annual rate of moderate/severe exacerbations by 29% compared with placebo (95% CI: 22, 35). Treatment with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 reduced the annual rate of moderate/severe exacerbations by 19% compared with fluticasone furoate (95% CI: 12, 26) and by 21% compared with vilanterol (95% CI: 14, 28). The on-treatment annual rate of moderate/severe exacerbations was 0.25 for BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, 0.35 for placebo, 0.31 for fluticasone furoate, and 0.31 for vilanterol.
Treatment with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 reduced the on-treatment annual rate of severe exacerbations (i.e., requiring hospitalization) by 27% compared with placebo (95% CI: 13, 39). Treatment with BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 reduced the on-treatment annual rate of exacerbations requiring hospitalization by 11% compared with fluticasone furoate (95% CI: -6, 25) and by 9% compared with vilanterol (95% CI: -8, 24).
Health-Related Quality of Life: The St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is a disease-specific patient-reported instrument that measures symptoms, activities, and impact on daily life. The SGRQ-C, a shorter version derived from the original SGRQ, was used in this trial. Results were transformed to the SGRQ for reporting purposes. In a subset of 4,443 subjects, the on-treatment SGRQ responder rates at 1 year (defined as a change in score of 4 or more as threshold) were 49% for BREO ELLIPTA 100/25, 47% for placebo, 48% for fluticasone furoate, and 48% for vilanterol (odds ratio 1.18; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.44 for BREO ELLIPTA 100/25 compared with placebo).