Respiratory clinical trials
GPs are being asked to help identify Australians living with asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease to take part in research studies.
GPs are being asked to help identify Australians living with asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), sometimes known as emphysema or smokers cough, to take part in three major new international research studies investigating a new once daily medication for these serious and potentially life-threatening respiratory diseases.
Because existing medications require patients to take their medicine twice a day some people do not
experience optimal management of symptoms due to poor levels of compliance.
“Current treatments for asthma and COPD require patients to take their medicine twice daily, which
can lead to issues with compliance if people forget to take their medication,” said Professor Philip
Bardin, Respiratory Specialist at Monash University and Medical Centre.
“The inhaler therapy being tested in these international studies requires only once-a-day usage that
may help to improve regular use of the medicine and longer-term management of disease,” Professor
Bardin continued.
“GPs are at the forefront of diagnosing and managing patients with asthma and COPD. Therefore,
they are ideally placed to consider whether it would be appropriate to discuss the merits of
participating in these important research studies with their patients,” Professor Bardin concluded.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) continually invests in research and development to identify more effective
treatments for respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, as well as in the areas of oncology,
neurology, and cardiovascular.
Research centres around Australia are currently recruiting patients aged 12 years and over with
asthma, and aged 40 years and over with COPD, for studies that are running at various sites in all
states, excluding the Northern Territory.
Eligible patients will have had an exacerbation of their asthma or COPD in the last 12 months, as
measured by needing to use oral steroids, visiting the hospital or being admitted to hospital.
To find out more, your patients should call toll-free on 1800 800 285. Participation will involve no out
of pocket expenses. All enquiries will be treated in confidence. The studies have been approved by an
Ethics Committee.