Beclometasone Dipropionate/Formoterol Fumarate is Similarly Effective to Budesonide/Formoterol Fumarate in Chinese Patients with COPD: The FORSYYN Double-Blind, Randomised Study

The fixed-dose combination of beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate (BDP/FF) delivered via pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) has demonstrated efficacy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in studies predominantly conducted in Caucasian adults. The current study evaluated the efficacy and safety of BDP/FF pMDI in Chinese patients with COPD, as part of registration for COPD in China. This double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, parallel-group study was conducted in patients with COPD of Chinese ethnicity aged ≥40 years. After a 4-week open-label budesonide/formoterol fumarate (BUD/FF) run-in period, patients were randomised to BUD/FF or BDP/FF for 24 weeks. The primary objective was to demonstrate non-inferiority of BDP/FF to BUD/FF in terms of change from baseline in pre-dose morning forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) at Week 24 (i.e. the lower 95% CI limit of the difference was above the pre-defined non-inferiority margin of −0.07 L). Of 750 patients randomised (377 BDP/FF; 373 BUD/FF), 87.6% completed the study. The primary endpoint was met in both the per-protocol (adjusted mean difference −0.001 L [95% CI: −0.025, 0.022], non-inferiority p < 0.001) and intention-to-treat populations (–0.001 L [–0.024, 0.022]; non-inferiority p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant BDP/FF–BUD/FF differences for the secondary endpoints, and a similar proportion of patients had adverse events (BDP/FF, 51.7%; BUD/FF, 51.2%), with most mild/moderate in severity. In conclusion, BDP/FF pMDI was non-inferior to BUD/FF in terms of pre-dose morning FEV1, supported by a range of secondary endpoints. Both treatments were similarly tolerated. The study supports the use of BDP/FF pMDI in Chinese patients with COPD.