Efficacy data on ensifentrine, recently FDA-approved for moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as dupilumab use for symptom control, are key updates in COPD from the 2024 American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Annual Meeting. Dharani Narendra, MD,FCCP, CHEST Physician Editorial Board Member, from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, reports on the findings.
Dr Narendra begins with a trial examining the role of muscle relaxants in COPD exacerbation. The results showed that patients with COPD who were taking muscle relaxants experienced a rising risk for exacerbations over 1, 3, and 5 years, with a 20% relative risk increase by year 5.
Next, Dr Narendra reports on ensifentrine efficacy in a subgroup analysis of the ENHANCE phase 3 trial, which provided the basis for FDA approval. Ensifentrine significantly improved peak and average FEV1 at week 12, compared with placebo.
Dr Narendra discusses a second presentation on ensifentrine — a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials of ensifentrine vs placebo in 2365 patients. Significant improvements were seen in peak FEV1 and average FEV1, confirming ensifentrine efficacy in symptomatic COPD patients with moderate to severe obstruction.
She also reviews subgroup analyses from the BOREAS and NOTUS trials, which led to the approval of dupilumab. One analysis demonstrated that dupilumab improved respiratory symptoms in COPD patients with type 2 inflammation. Another showed significant reduction in annual exacerbation rates in patients with and without emphysema.
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Dharani K. Narendra, MD, FCCP, Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Dharani K. Narendra, MD, FCCP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.