Roflumilast: first phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor approved for treatment of COPD.

ABSTRACT: In April 2010, the European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended approval of roflumilast, a selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, for the "maintenance treatment of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, FEV(1) postbronchodilator less than 50% predicted) associated with chronic bronchitis in adult patients with a history of frequent exacerbations as add-on to bronchodilator treatment". This decision was based, in part, on the results of several large, international, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of either six or 12 months' duration that had been undertaken in COPD patients. Roflumilast 500 mug daily improved lung function and reduced exacerbations in patients with more severe COPD, especially those with chronic bron

SUBMITTER: Giembycz MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2915539 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature