• The primary efficacy endpoint will be FEV1 area under the curve for the time period 0 to 12 hours (FEV1 AUC0-12) measured after 6 weeks of treatment, at the final study visit (Visit 4).
  

• Trough and peak FEV1. Trough FVC at Visits 3 and 4 and peak FVC and FVC AUC0-12 at Visit 4. Individual FEV1 and FVC measurements at each time point. Weekly mean number of puffs of rescue therapy used per day and night.
  

This is a six-week, multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, triple-dummy, parallel group pilot study to compare the bronchodilator efficacy and safety of the long-acting bronchodilator tiotropium (Spiriva, 18 µg q.d.) to the free combination of fluticasone (Flixotide, 250 µg b.i.d.) and salmeterol (Serevent, 50 µg b.i.d.) in patients with COPD.

Following an initial screening at Visit 1, subjects will enter a two-week run-in period during which they will record daily rescue salbutamol use in the Patient Daily Diary Card. At Visit 1, pre-dose and post-bronchodilator pulmonary function tests (PFT) will be measured. Four inhalations of ipratropium (20 µg per puff) and four inhalations of salbutamol (100 µg per puff) will be administered 60 minutes prior to obtaining post-bronchodilator PFT measurement.

At Visit 2, a pre-dose PFT will be performed prior to first administration of trial medication. Treatment with blinded study medication (tiotropium or fluticasone + salmeterol) will start in the morning of Visit 2 (Day 1). After three weeks of treatment, at Visit 3 (Day 22), pre-dose FEV1 and FVC will be measured, patient compliance checked and a re-supply of study medication dispensed. After six weeks of treatment, at Visit 4 (Day 43), a 12 hour profile of PFTs will be obtained.

Study Hypothesis:

As this is a pilot trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of tiotropium (18 µg q.d.) as compared to the free combination of fluticasone (250 µg b.i.d.) and salmeterol (50 µg b.i.d.), no formal hypothesis testing will be performed. However, the underlying hypothesis for this trial is that tiotropium is superior to the free combination with respect to the primary efficacy endpoint FEV1AUC0-12 (area under the curve for the time period 0 to 12 hours).

Comparison(s):

At least 100 male or female outpatients with clinical and spirometric evidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be entered in this study. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either tiotropium inhalation capsules 18 µg q.d., or salmeterol 50 µg oral inhalation b.i.d. in free combination with fluticasone 250 µg oral inhalation b.i.d. in a double-blind triple-dummy fashion.