Combination of formoterol and a tiotropium salt

Abstract

A medicament containing, separately or together, (A) formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate of formoterol or said salt and (B) a tiotropium salt of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid, for simultaneous, sequential or separate administration in the treatment of an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A medicament containing, separately or together, (A) formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate of formoterol or said salt and (B) a tiotropium salt of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid, for simultaneous, sequential or separate administration of (A) and (B) in the treatment of an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease.  
     
     
         2 . A medicament according to  claim 1  which is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a mixture of effective amounts of (A) and (B), optionally together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         3 . A medicament according to  claim 1 , in which (A) is formoterol fumarate dihydrate and (B) is tiotropium bromide.  
     
     
         4 . A medicament according to  claim 2 , in which (A) is formoterol fumarate dihydrate and (B) is tiotropium bromide.  
     
     
         5 . A medicament according to  claim 1 , which is in inhalable form.  
     
     
         6 . A medicament according to  claim 2 , which is in inhalable form.  
     
     
         7 . A medicament according to  claim 1  which is in inhalable form, said form being an aerosol comprising a mixture of (A) and (B) in solution or dispersion in a propellant, or a combination of an aerosol containing (A) in solution or dispersion in a propellant with an aerosol containing (B) in solution or dispersion in a propellant.  
     
     
         8 . A medicament according to  claim 7 , in which the aerosol comprises 0.002 to 5% by weight of active ingredient, based on the weight of the propellant.  
     
     
         9 . A medicament according to  claim 1  which is inhalable form, said form being a nebulizable composition comprising a dispersion of (A) and (B) in an aqueous, organic or aqueous/organic medium or a combination of a dispersion of (A) in said medium with a dispersion of (B) in said medium.  
     
     
         10 . A medicament according to  claim 1  which is in inhalable form, said form being a dry powder comprising finely divided (A) and/or (B) optionally together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in finely divided form.  
     
     
         11 . A medicament according to  claim 10 , in which the carrier is present and is a saccharide.  
     
     
         12 . A medicament according to  claim 11 , in which the carrier is lactose.  
     
     
         13 . A medicament according to  claim 10 , in which (A) and/or (B) has an average particle diameter up to 10 μm.  
     
     
         14 . A medicament according to  claim 2 , in which the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is from 72:1 to 1:160.  
     
     
         15 . A medicament according to  claim 14 , in which said ratio is from 60:1 to 1:80.  
     
     
         16 . A medicament according to  claim 15 , in which said ratio is from 3:1 to 1:3.  
     
     
         17 . A medicament according to  claim 2 , which is a dry powder in a capsule, the capsule containing from 3 to 36 μg of (A) as formoterol fumarate dihydrate, from 3 to 80 μg of (B) as tiotropium bromide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount to bring the total weight of dry powder per capsule to betwen 5 mg and 50 mg.  
     
     
         18 . A medicament according to  claim 2 , which is a dry powder comprising, by weight, 3 to 36 parts of (A) as formoterol fumarate dihydrate, 3 to 80 parts of (B) as tiotropium bromide and 2884 to 24994 parts of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         19 . A method of treating an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment effective amounts of (A) formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate of formoterol or said salt and (B) a tiotropium salt of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid.  
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical kit comprising (A) formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate of formoterol or said salt and (B) a tiotropium salt of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid in separate unit dosage forms, said forms being suitable for administration of (A) and (B) in effective amounts, together with one or more inhalation devices for administration of (A) and (B).