The POET-COPD® study results demonstrate superiority of Spiriva® (tiotropium) over long-acting beta agonist salmeterol in reducing the risk for COPD exacerbations

Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany / New York, N.Y., USA (24 March 2011) – Results of the one-year Prevention Of Exacerbations with Tiotropium in COPD (POET-COPD®) study, published today by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), demonstrate that Spiriva® (tiotropium)*, is superior to salmeterol**, in reducing the risk of exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). ¹ The POET-COPD® study is a large, one year head-to-head study designed to compare the effects of the long-acting anticholinergic Spiriva® with the long-acting beta agonist salmeterol on moderate to severe exacerbations in COPD. ¹ Exacerbations (sometimes referred to as COPD lung attacks due to the severe impact on patients’ health), are a key indicator for disease progression and decline in lung function and their prevention is a major treatment goal. ^2,3,4