A solid scientific rationale and an increasing body of clinical evidence for combining a β2-agonist with an antimuscarinic agent in COPD fully support the opinion that patients not controlled by a single bronchodilator should be given two bronchodilators with different mechanisms of action. Tiotropium is an established choice for the management of patients with stable COPD, and olodaterol is a new effective and safe once-daily long-acting β2-agonist. The parallel bronchodilating modes of action of olodaterol and tiotropium make them an attractive combination in COPD. The large ongoing TOviTO Phase III trial program is documenting the efficacy and safety of olodaterol/tiotropium fixed dose combination delivered via the Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler as maintenance therapy in patients with moderate to very severe COPD. However, we must still know whether this fixed-dose combination will affect exacerbations and hospitalizations, and ultimately death, and also the precise estimates of its relative cardiovascular safety.
Keywords: COPD; fixed dose combination; olodaterol; respimat soft mist inhaler; tiotropium bromide.