Pharmacokinetics and Systemic Activity of a New Patent of an Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long-Acting beta 2-Agonist Combination for Use in Asthma Therapy: Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol Trifenatate

The present paper reviews pharmacokinetics and systemic activity of a new patent of fluticasone fumarate/vilanterol trifenatate and summarises the efficacy data in children, adolescents and adults with asthma. Bioavailability of oral deposition of fluticasone furoate is approximately 1%, of oral and pulmonary deposition 15%. Fluticasone furoate 400, 600 and 800 mu g have been associated with reductions in 24h urine cortisol excretion in adults, whereas several studies on fluticasone furoate/vilanterol trifenatate 100/25 mu g and 200/25 mu g once daily found no suppressive effects. Bronchodilation was detected in adults with asthma from 5 minutes after vilanterol trifenatate was inhaled and up to 24 hours after. Five large clinical trials which were sponsored by the manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline provided evidence that dry powder fluticasone furoate/vilanterol trifenatate 100/25 mu g and 200/25 mu g once daily are efficacious in asthma in patients >= 12 years of age. It remains to be proven, however, that once daily dosing may improve asthma control as compared to twice daily dosing. Efficacy and the systemic activity potential for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and growth suppression of fluticasone furoate have not been established in children. The potential for systemic acitivity of fluticasone furoate in children may be assessed by knemometry.