Ciclesonide reduces the need for oral steroid use in adult patients with severe, persistent asthma.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) may be associated with systemic adverse events (AEs), which can be reduced by replacing OCS with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The potential of ciclesonide, a novel ICS, to reduce OCS use in patients with severe, persistent asthma was evaluated in this study. DESIGN: A phase III, 12-week, international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. PATIENTS: Adult and adolescent patients (> or = 12 years old; n = 141) with severe, persistent, oral steroid (prednisone)-dependent asthma. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive ciclesonide (640 mug/d or 1,280 microg/d [ex-actuator]) bid or placebo for 12 weeks. Weekly evaluations determined eligibility for prednisone dose reduction based on predetermined criteria. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The prednisone dose was significantly reduced by 47% and 63% in the groups receiving ciclesonide, 640 microg/d, and ciclesonide, 1,280 microg/d, respectively, vs an increase of 4% in the placebo group (both p < or = 0.0003) at week 12. By week 12, prednisone was discontinued by approximately 30% of patients in the ciclesonide-treated groups, vs 11% of patients in the placebo group (both p < or = 0.04). FEV1 improved significantly at week 12 in the ciclesonide treatment groups vs placebo (p < 0.03). The occurrence of local and systemic AEs was comparable between all treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Study results suggest that ciclesonide significantly reduces the need for OCS in patients with severe, persistent asthma, while maintaining asthma control.