Vilanterol Trifenatate

TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2026 — Dry powder inhalers might provide a double benefit for people battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study says. These inhalers not only lead to slightly better lung health among COPD patients, but also are less harmful to the environment, researchers reported Feb. 23 in JAMA Internal Medicine . The most commonly prescribed dry powder inhaler for COPD outperformed the most common metered-dose inhaler, researchers found. Metered-dose inhalers rely on propellants to deliver drugs to the lungs — potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, researchers noted. “The inhalers we studied are the first line treatment for many patients with COPD, so it’s reassuring to see evidence that lower-emission inhalers may also be associated with slightly better clinical outcomes,” said senior researcher Dr. William Feldman , a pulmonologist and health services researcher at UCLA Health. “These findings highlight the opportunity to reduce health care-related emissions while potentially improving patient care,” he said in a news release. For the new study, researchers compared nearly 9,500 COPD patients using a dry powder inhaler against the same number using a metered-dose inhaler. Patients using a dry powder inhaler must breathe in their medicine, rather than having it pushed into the lungs by an aerosol spray. Results showed that a dry powder inhaler loaded with umeclidinium and vilanterol produced a 14% lower risk of moderate or severe COPD flare-ups, compared to a metered-dose inhaler loaded with glycopyrrolate and formoterol . A soft mist inhaler loaded with tiotropium and olodaterol also did slightly better, lowering flare-up risk by 6% compared to a metered-dose inhaler among nearly 9,600 matched pairs. Soft mist inhalers also don’t rely on propellants. “This combination makes a strong case for using the dry powder inhaler when possible,” Feldman said. “Although some patients may require metered-dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers and soft mist inhalers are a safe and effective option for most patients with COPD.” Sources UCLA, news release, Feb. 23, 2026

Altesa will now progress its antiviral to a mid-stage trial. Credit: Kateryna Kon/ShutterStock.com Altesa BioSciences has closed an oversubscribed $75m Series B funding round to advance the clinical development of its antiviral, vapendavir. With funding from lead investor Forbion, as well as contributions from Sanofi and other venture capitalists, Altesa will progress vapendavir to Phase IIb trials in rhinovirus, a disease widely known as the common cold. Under the co-leadership of former US assistant health secretary, Brett Giroir and ex-GSK chief medical officer (CMO), Dr Katharine Knobil, the biotech will initiate the multinational CARDINAL study, which aims to enrol 900 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to evaluate how treatment with vapendavir may impact the severity of rhinoviral-driven exacerbations within the disease. The trial is expected to begin in Q2 2026. According to Altesa, vapendavir could have the potential to prevent “up to 50% of COPD exacerbations” by stopping the common cold from infecting and reproducing within a host’s cells. The American Lung Association (ALA) currently cites respiratory diseases like cold and flu as the most common cause of exacerbations in COPD. Alongside its potential to reduce exacerbations, Knobil hopes that vapendavir can improve symptoms and maintain patient quality of life, while hastening the resolution of illness and potentially allowing patients to avoid advanced medical intervention. Vapedavir will head to Phase IIb with positive early-stage data under its belt, as the antiviral was found to diminish illness duration, inflammatory markers and both upper and lower airways symptoms in the Phase I Challenge study (NCT05962645). GlobalData Strategic Intelligence US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate? Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis. By GlobalData Learn more about Strategic Intelligence COPD market takes a breath of fresh air Until recently, the COPD market was dominated by inhaled small molecule therapies, with combination options like GSK’s Telegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium bromide and vilanterol trifenatate) securing a strong share of the indication’s sales. However, the COPD approval of Sanofi and Regeneron’s biologic, Dupixent (dupilumab) as an add-on maintenance therapy marked the start of a biologics revolution – with GSK’s Nucala (mepolizumab) following in Dupixent’s footsteps in May 2025 and several candidates making their way through clinical trials. According to GlobalData’s Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, there are currently 15 ongoing clinical trials evaluating eight biologics in COPD. GlobalData, the parent company of Pharmaceutical Technology , forecasts that the COPD market will be worth $30.2bn in 2033 .