Current therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) focus on the improvement of clinical symptoms via the use of bronchodilators:
b2-adrenoreceptor agonists and muscarinic (M3) acetycholine
receptor antagonists. The combination of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and
long-acting b2 agonists (LABAs), or LABAs and anticholinergics has become
an efficient alternative to single therapies. These combinations consist of a
LABA and an ICS together with an anticholinergic, such as ipratropium
or tiotropium.