Dose selection for glycopyrrolate/eFlow(®) phase III clinical studies: results from GOLDEN (Glycopyrrolate for Obstructive Lung Disease via Electronic Nebulizer) phase II dose-finding studies

BACKGROUND: Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) are recommended for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Glycopyrrolate/eFlow® is an investigational drug–device combination of the LAMA glycopyrrolate administered by an eFlow® Closed System (eFlow® CS) nebulizer. The GOLDEN 2 (NCT01706536) and GOLDEN 6 (NCT02038829) Phase II, multicenter studies were conducted to inform dose selection for the GOLDEN Phase III clinical trials. Bronchodilator responses and safety assessments supported dose selection. METHODS: Subjects with moderate-to-severe COPD were randomized into 28-day parallel-group (GOLDEN 2) or 7-day crossover (GOLDEN 6) studies and received placebo, glycopyrrolate (3, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 or 100 μg twice daily [BID]) or aclidinium bromide 400 μg BID. The primary endpoint of both studies was change from baseline in trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)). Safety assessments included the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), treatment-emergent serious adverse events, and discontinuation due to TEAE. Lung function data collected in both studies were pooled. RESULTS: The combined GOLDEN 2 (n = 282) and GOLDEN 6 (n = 96) studies included 378 subjects. On Days 7 and 28 there were dose-ordered, statistically significant and clinically important lung function improvements in glycopyrrolate treatment groups. Specifically, on Day 7, glycopyrrolate produced >0.100 L placebo-adjusted changes from baseline in trough FEV(1) (12.5 μg BID: 0.122 L; 25 μg BID: 0.123 L; 50 μg BID: 0.137 L) and FEV(1) AUC(0–12) (12.5 μg BID: 0.145 L; 25 μg BID: 0.178 L; 50 μg BID: 0.180 L). The improvements in lung function for the glycopyrrolate 25 and 50 μg BID doses were comparable to those with aclidinium bromide 400 μg BID (FEV(1): 0.149 L; FEV(1) AUC(0−12): 0.172 L). Acceptable safety profiles were observed across all groups in both studies. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety findings supported selection of glycopyrrolate 25 and 50 μg BID doses for the Phase III GOLDEN studies and provided preliminary evidence for the use of nebulized glycopyrrolate as a maintenance therapy for COPD. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12931-017-0681-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.