Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a prevalent disease throughout the world. Recently updated treatment guidelines were published and still endorse a general step-wise approach to therapy based on severity of disease. The heterogeneity of the disease makes it difficult to determine appropriate therapy based on the data available. Currently, combination therapy, specifically triple therapy with a long acting beta2 agonist, a long acting anticholinergic agent, and an inhaled corticosteroid appear to achieve the best patient outcomes. In addition, there is a desperate need for new therapy with a different mechanism of action than those already on the market. The recommendations concerning stable COPD treatment will be reviewed, as well as, efficacy data regarding combination therapy. In addition, a few new and prospective therapies will be evaluated.