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COPD rescue medications
COPD rescue medications is a Short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) Small molecule drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline. It is currently FDA-approved for Acute bronchospasm relief in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Rescue therapy for acute dyspnea and airway obstruction in COPD patients.
COPD rescue medications are short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABAs) that rapidly relax airway smooth muscle to provide quick relief of acute bronchospasm and breathing difficulty.
COPD rescue medications include NVA237 and tiotropium, which are used to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These medications are studied for their efficacy, safety, and tolerability in clinical trials, such as the one comparing NVA237 to tiotropium.
At a glance
| Generic name | COPD rescue medications |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Drug class | Short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) |
| Target | Beta-2 adrenergic receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Respiratory/Pulmonology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
These medications bind to beta-2 adrenergic receptors on airway smooth muscle, triggering rapid bronchodilation within minutes. They are used as needed for acute symptom relief during COPD exacerbations or breakthrough symptoms, providing temporary improvement in airflow and breathing. Common examples include albuterol (salbutamol) and levalbuterol.
Approved indications
- Acute bronchospasm relief in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Rescue therapy for acute dyspnea and airway obstruction in COPD patients
Common side effects
- Tremor
- Tachycardia
- Headache
- Nervousness/anxiety
- Palpitations
- Muscle cramps
Key clinical trials
- Multi-Center Clean Air Randomized Controlled Trial in COPD (PHASE3)
- ProAir Digihaler in COPD Disease Management: A Real World Study
- Intervention to Improve Inhalative Adherence (NA)
- A MHealth Intervention to Improve Symptom Control in Children and Adolescents with Difficult-to-control Asthma (NA)
- Proof of Concept Study Assessing Technology-Assisted Respiratory Adherence Prototype Version 3 in Individuals With COPD (PHASE2)
- Evaluate the Relationship Between Use of Albuterol Multidose Dry Powder Inhaler With an eModule (eMDPI) and Exacerbations in Participants With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (PHASE3)
- A Comparative Study Between Fluticasone Furoate/Umeclidinium/Vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) Single Inhaler Triple Therapy Versus Tiotropium Monotherapy in Subjects With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (PHASE4)
- Dose Finding Study of Nemiralisib (GSK2269557) in Subjects With an Acute Moderate or Severe Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- COPD rescue medications CI brief — competitive landscape report
- COPD rescue medications updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- GlaxoSmithKline portfolio CI
Frequently asked questions about COPD rescue medications
What is COPD rescue medications?
How does COPD rescue medications work?
What is COPD rescue medications used for?
Who makes COPD rescue medications?
What drug class is COPD rescue medications in?
What development phase is COPD rescue medications in?
What are the side effects of COPD rescue medications?
What does COPD rescue medications target?
Related
- Drug class: All Short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) drugs
- Target: All drugs targeting Beta-2 adrenergic receptor
- Manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline — full pipeline
- Therapeutic area: All drugs in Respiratory/Pulmonology
- Indication: Drugs for Acute bronchospasm relief in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Indication: Drugs for Rescue therapy for acute dyspnea and airway obstruction in COPD patients
Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing