Ensifentrine delays transition from GOLD B to GOLD E in COPD

Ensifentrine delayed the progression from classification GOLD B to a GOLD E status in patients with moderate-tosevere COPD, results of the ENHANCE trials demonstrated. Since patients with COPD continue to experience exacerbations, novel therapies like ensifentrine are important to improve patients’ health status.

“Despite treatment with standard-of-care therapy, patients with COPD continue to experience exacerbations,” stated Dr Frank Sciurba (University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA). Ensifentrine is a novel PDE3/4 inhibitor that has been tested in 2 clinical trials, named
ENHANCE-1 and ENHANCE-2 [1]. The trials randomised 975 participants to the ensifentrine arm and 574 participants to the placebo arm. Dr Sciurba presented the results of a post-hoc analysis, investigating the effect of ensifentrine on the transition from infrequent exacerbator (GOLD B) to frequent exacerbator (GOLD E) [2].

The investigators found that the moderate and severe exacerbation risk was reduced by 41% if participants were treated with ensifentrine instead of placebo after 24 weeks of treatment (RR 0.59; 95% CI 0.43–0.80; P<0.05). In addition, the time to first COPD exacerbation was prolonged in the ensifentrine arm (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.44–0.81; P<0.05). Not surprisingly, ensifentrine treatment, compared with placebo, resulted in a trend towards a risk reduction of transitioning from a GOLD B to a GOLD E status over 24 weeks of treatment (HR 0.64; 95%
CI 0.41–1.01; P=0.058).

“Ensifentrine provides meaningful exacerbation benefits in a broad population of patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, including those on background inhaled corticosteroid therapy,” concluded Dr Sciurba.

1. Anzueto A, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023;208(4):406-416.
2. Sciurba F, et al. Ensifentrine reduces exacerbation frequency and delays, progression from GOLD B to GOLD E. Late-breaking abstracts: science that will impact clinical care. ATS 2024, 17–22 May, San Diego, USA.

Medical writing support was provided by Robert van den Heuvel.

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Posted on 11 June 20245 September 2024