Pharmacotherapeutic group: Drugs for obstructive airway diseases; Selective beta2-adrenoreceptor agonists, ATC code: R03AC19
Mechanism of action
Olodaterol has a high affinity and high selectivity to the human beta2-adrenoceptor.
In vitro studies have shown that olodaterol has 241-fold greater agonist activity at beta2-adrenoceptors compared to beta1-adrenoceptors and 2299-fold greater agonist activity compared to beta3-adrenoceptors.
The compound exerts its pharmacological effects by binding and activation of beta2-adrenoceptors after topical administration by inhalation.
Activation of these receptors in the airways results in a stimulation of intracellular adenyl cyclase, an enzyme that mediates the synthesis of cyclic-3',5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Elevated levels of cAMP induce bronchodilation by relaxation of airway smooth muscle cells.
Olodaterol has the pre-clinical profile of a long-acting selective beta2-adrenoceptor agonist (LABA) with a fast onset of action and a duration of action of at least 24 hours.
Beta-adrenoceptors are divided into three subtypes, beta1-adrenoceptors predominantly expressed on cardiac smooth muscle, beta2-adrenoceptors predominantly expressed on airway smooth muscle and beta3-adrenoceptors predominantly expressed on adipose tissue. Beta2-agonists cause bronchodilation. Although the beta2-adrenoceptor is the predominant adrenergic receptor in the airway smooth muscle it is also present on the surface of a variety of other cells, including lung epithelial and endothelial cells and in the heart. The precise function of beta2-receptors in the heart is not known, but their presence raises the possibility that even highly selective beta2-adrenergic agonists may have cardiac effects.
Effects on cardiac electrophysiology
The effect of olodaterol on the QT/QTc interval of the ECG was investigated in 24 healthy male and female volunteers in a double-blind, randomised, placebo- and active (moxifloxacin) controlled study. Olodaterol at single doses of 10, 20, 30 and 50 microgram, demonstrated that compared with placebo, the mean changes from baseline in QT interval over 20 minutes to 2 hours after dosing increased dose-dependently from 1.6 (10 microgram olodaterol) to 6.5 ms (50 microgram olodaterol), with the upper limit of the two-sided 90% confidence intervals being less than 10 ms at all dose levels for individually corrected QT (QTcI).
The effect of 5 microgram and 10 microgram Striverdi Respimat on heart rate and rhythm was assessed using continuous 24-hour ECG recording (Holter monitoring) in a subset of 772 patients in the 48-week, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials. There were no dose- or time-related trends or patterns observed for the magnitudes of mean changes in heart rate or premature beats. Shifts from baseline to the end of treatment in premature beats did not indicate meaningful differences between olodaterol 5 microgram, 10 microgram and placebo.
Clinical efficacy and safety
The Phase III clinical development program for Striverdi Respimat included four pairs of replicate, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in 3533 COPD patients (1281 received the 5 microgram dose, 1284 received the 10 microgram dose):
(i) two replicate, placebo- and active-controlled, parallel-group, 48-week trials, with formoterol 12 microgram twice daily as active comparator [Trials 1 and 2]
(ii) two replicate, placebo-controlled, parallel group, 48-week trials [Trials 3 and 4]
(iii) two replicate, placebo- and active-controlled, 6 week cross-over trials, with formoterol 12 microgram twice daily as active comparator [Trials 5 and 6]
(iv) two replicate, placebo- and active-controlled, 6 week cross-over trials, with tiotropium HandiHaler 18 microgram once daily as active comparator [Trials 7 and 8].
All studies included lung function measurements (forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV1); the 48 weeks studies evaluated peak (AUC0-3) and trough lung function responses, while the 6 week studies evaluated the lung function profile over a continuous 24 hour dosing interval. The two replicate, placebo- and active-controlled, 48 week trials also included the Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) as a measure of dyspnea and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) as a measure of health-related quality of life.
Patients enrolled into the Phase III program were 40 years of age or older with a clinical diagnosis of COPD, had a smoking history of at least 10 pack years and had moderate to very severe pulmonary impairment (post-bronchodilator FEV1 less than 80% predicted normal (GOLD Stage II-IV); post-bronchodilator FEV1 to FVC ratio of less than 70%).
Patient characteristics
The majority of the 3104 patients recruited in the global, 48-week trials [Trials 1 and 2, Trials 3 and 4] were male (77%), white (66%) or Asian (32%), with a mean age of 64 years. Mean post-bronchodilator FEV1 was 1.38 L (GOLD II [50%], GOLD III [40%], GOLD IV [10%]). Mean β2-agonist responsiveness was 15% of baseline (0.160 L). With the exception of other long acting β2-agonists, all pulmonary medications were allowed as concomitant therapy (e.g. tiotropium [24%], ipratropium [25%], inhaled steroids [45%], xanthines [16%]); patient enrolment was stratified by tiotropium use. In all four trials, the primary lung function efficacy endpoints were change from pre-treatment baseline in FEV1 AUC0-3 and change from pre-treatment baseline in trough (pre-dose) FEV1 (after 24 weeks in Trials 1 and 2; after 12 weeks in Trials 3 and 4).
The 6 week trials [Trials 5 and 6, Trials 7 and 8] were conducted in Europe and North America. In Trials 5 and 6, the majority of the 199 recruited patients were male (53%) and white (93%), with a mean age of 63 years. Mean post-bronchodilator FEV1 was 1.43 L (GOLD II [54%], GOLD III [39%], GOLD IV [7%]). Mean β2-agonist responsiveness was 17% of baseline (0.187 L). With the exception of other long acting β2-agonists, all pulmonary medications were allowed as concomitant therapy (e.g. tiotropium [24%], ipratropium [16%], inhaled steroids [31%], xanthines [0.5%]). In Trials 7 and 8, the majority of the 230 recruited patients were male (69%) and white (99.6%), with a mean age of 62 years. Mean post-bronchodilator FEV1 was 1.55 L (GOLD II [57%], GOLD III [35%], GOLD IV [7%]). Mean β2-agonist responsiveness was 18% of baseline (0.203 L). With the exception of other long acting β2-agonists and anti-cholinergics, all pulmonary medications were allowed as concomitant therapy (e.g. inhaled steroids [49%], xanthines [7%]).
Lung function
In the 48 week trials, Striverdi Respimat, 5 microgram administered once daily in the morning, provided significant improvement (p<0.0001) in lung function within 5 minutes following the first dose (mean 0.130 L increase in FEV1 compared with a pre-treatment baseline of 1.18 L). Significant improvement in lung function was maintained for 24 hours (mean 0.162 L increase in FEV1 AUC0-3 compared to placebo, p<0.0001; mean 0.071 L increase in 24 hour trough FEV1 compared to placebo, p<0.0001); the lung function improvements were evident in both tiotropium users and non-tiotropium users. The magnitude of the bronchodilating effect of olodaterol (FEV1 AUC0-3 response) was dependent on the degree of reversibility of airflow limitation at baseline (tested by administration of a short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator); patients with a higher degree of reversibility at baseline generally exhibited a higher bronchodilator response with olodaterol than patients with a lower degree of reversibility at baseline. For both olodaterol and active comparator, the bronchodilatory effect (when measured in L) was lower in patients with more severe COPD. The bronchodilator effects of Striverdi Respimat were maintained throughout the 48 week treatment period. Striverdi Respimat also improved morning and evening PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate) as measured by patient's daily recordings compared to placebo.
In the 6 week trials, Striverdi Respimat showed a significantly greater FEV1 response compared to placebo (p<0.0001) over the full 24 hour dosing interval (mean 0.175 L [Trials 5 and 6] and 0.211 L [Trials 7 and 8] increase in FEV1 AUC0-3 compared to placebo, p<0.0001; mean 0.137 L [Trials 5 and 6] and 0.168 L [Trials 7 and 8] increase in FEV1 AUC0-24 compared to placebo, p<0.0001). mean 0.102 L [Trials 5 and 6] and 0.134 L [Trials 7 and 8] increase in 24 hour trough FEV1 compared to placebo, p<0.0001). Improvements in lung function were comparable to twice daily formoterol [Trials 5 and 6; mean 0.205 L increase in FEV1 AUC0-3 compared to placebo; mean 0.108 L increase in 24 hour trough FEV1 compared to placebo (p<0.0001)] and once daily tiotropium HandHaler [Trials 7 and 8; mean 0.211 L increase in FEV1 AUC0-3 compared to placebo; mean 0.129 L increase in 24 hour trough FEV1 compared to placebo (p<0.0001)].
Dyspnea, Health-related Quality of Life, Rescue Medication Use, Patient Global Rating
The Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were also included in the replicate, placebo- and active-controlled, 48-week trials [Trials 1 and 2].
After 24 weeks, there was no significant difference between Striverdi Respimat, formoterol and placebo in the TDI focal score, due to an unexpected improvement in the placebo group in one study (Table 1); in a post-hoc analysis that accounted for patient discontinuations, the difference between Striverdi Respimat and placebo was significant.
Table 1 TDI focal score after 24 weeks of treatment
| | Treatment Mean | Difference to Placebo |
| Mean (p-value) |
| Primary analysis | Placebo | 1.5 (0.2) | |
| Olodaterol 5 μg once daily | 1.9 (0.2) | 0.3 (p=0.1704) |
| Formoterol 12 μg twice daily | 1.8 (0.2) | 0.2 (p=0.3718) |
| Post-hoc analysis | Placebo | 1.5 (0.2) | |
| Olodaterol 5 μg once daily | 2.0 (0.2) | 0.5 (p=0.0270) |
| Formoterol 12 μg twice daily | 1.8 (0.2) | 0.4 (p=0.1166) |
After 24 weeks, Striverdi Respimat significantly improved mean SGRQ total score compared to placebo (Table 2); improvements were seen in all 3 SGRQ domains (symptoms, activities, impact). More patients treated with Striverdi Respimat had an improvement in SGRQ total score greater than the MCID (4 units) compared to placebo (50.2% vs. 36.4%, p<0.0001).
Table 2 SGRQ total-score after 24 weeks of treatment
| | Treatment Mean (change from baseline) | Difference to Placebo |
| Mean (p-value) |
| Total score | Baseline | 44.4 | |
| Placebo | 41.6 (-2.8) | |
| Olodaterol 5 μg once daily | 38.8 (-5.6) | -2.8 (p=0.0034) |
| Formoterol 12 μg twice daily | 40.4 (-4.0) | -1.2 (p=0.2009) |
Patients treated with Striverdi Respimat used less daytime and nighttime rescue salbutamol compared to patients treated with placebo.
In each of the 48 week trials, patients treated with Striverdi Respimat perceived a greater improvement in their respiratory condition compared to placebo, as measured by a Patient´s Global Rating (PGR) scale.
Paediatric population
The European Medicines Agency has waived the obligation to submit the results of studies with Striverdi Respimat in all subsets of the paediatric population in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (see section 4.2 for information on paediatric use).