Salmeterol Inhalation Powder Administered as the Xinafoate Salt From Hard Polyethylene Capsules Via the HandiHaler® 2, and Serevent® Diskus® in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The primary objective of this trial was to establish non-inferiority of lung function response to two doses \[25 μg (1 capsule) and 50 μg (2 capsules of 25 μg)\] salmeterol, administered as the xinafoate salt, in an inhalation powder delivered from hard polyethylene (PE) capsules via the HandiHaler® 2 compared to Serevent® Diskus® (salmeterol 50 μg, administered as the xinafoate salt) following single dose inhalation in patients with COPD. A hard capsule with half the strength (12.5 μg) was included to investigate a dose ordering effect. The secondary objectives were to characterize the pharmacokinetics of salmeterol inhalation powder delivered by HandiHaler® 2 from the PE hard capsule(s) and salmeterol xinafoate delivered by Serevent® Diskus®, and to compare the safety of the different pharmaceutical forms and/or doses.