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formoterol (Forair / Atimos / CHF 1531)

✓ Approved

Novartis AG · ADRB2 · Small Molecule

What is formoterol?

formoterol is a small molecule developed by Novartis AG. It is approved for therapeutic indications via inhaled or topical.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesForair, Atimos, CHF 1531
CompanyNovartis AG
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetADRB2
RouteInhaled, Topical
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Novartis AG

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

formoterol acts on 1 molecular target:

ADRB2adrenoceptor beta 2 (B2AR, ARB2)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

formoterol is developed for 2 unique indications across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disordersAsthma✓ Approved
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disordersChronic obstructive pulmonary disease✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedFrontiers in neurology2026-10-14

Revaluation of the tongue function of the modified hypoglossal-to-facial transfer: a comparative cohort study.

Zhang Ying Y, Zhang Zhongding Z, Tang Yinda Y, Wang Baimiao B et al.

Traditional end-to-end hypoglossal-to-facial anastomosis (HFA) was a common surgical procedure for uncured severe facial palsy, however, was related to tongue dysfunction. We developed a modified hypoglossal-to-facial anastomosis (MHFA) procedure with the additional process of the anastomosis of the transected hypoglossal nerve and the ramus descendens hypoglossi, aiming to salvage the tongue function. We retrospectively collected 45 cases of MHFA in our center from January 2020 to December 2022. A comparative analysis was conducted from MHFA and 27 cases of HFA in the early stage at our center. The tongue disability index was used to evaluate the tongue function during the follow-up. Baseline characteristics were comparable between HFA (n = 27) and MHFA (n = 45) groups (all p > 0.05). MHFA demonstrated longer operative time (198.27 vs. 157.78 min, p < 0.001). Up to the last follow-up, MHFA showed superior outcomes: smaller tongue deviation angle (13.38° ± 9.56° vs. 23.86° ± 10.52°, mean difference 10.47°[95%CI 5.65-15.29], p < 0.001), lower incidence of severe deviation (>30°: 8.9% vs. 37.0%, p = 0.003), and reduced tongue-related complications (24.4% vs. 66.7%, p < 0.001). Specifically, MHFA had significantly fewer swallowing (11.1% vs. 37.0%, p = 0.009) and articulation defects (13.3% vs. 44.4%, p = 0.003). TDI scores were markedly lower in MHFA (1.63 ± 0.53 vs. 2.23 ± 0.50, mean difference 0.60 [0.34-0.85], p < 0.001), particularly in swallowing, articulation, and psychological subdomains (all p < 0.05). Strong correlation existed between tongue deviation and TDI scores (r = 0.890, p < 0.001). Facial nerve recovery showed no intergroup difference (HB score improvement: 2.40 ± 0.69 vs. 2.33 ± 0.73, p = 0.699). MHFA appears promising for reducing tongue morbidity, but its clinically relevant advantage over HFA requires prospective validation using standardized outcomes.

PMID 42871405
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PubMedJournal of thoracic disease2026-10-13

Symptoms improvement and lung function benefits of fixed triple therapy with beclomethasone/formoterol/glycopyrronium inhalation powder in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD: outcomes of the Bulgarian arm of the RESPONSE study.

Petkov Rosen E RE, Kenderov Andrey N AN, Rodopska Neli L NL, Mekov Evgeni V EV et al.

The fixed triple beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrronium (BDP/FF/GB) therapy is available in both pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) and dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment. While the pMDI form has been extensively investigated in pivotal trials and real-world studies, real-world data on the DPI (88/5/9 μg) formulation remain limited. The RESPONSE study assessed the real-world effectiveness of BDP/FF/GB inhalation powder in a cohort of moderate-to-severe COPD patients uncontrolled with dual combinations. This non-interventional, prospective, multicenter study was conducted across 21 Bulgarian sites. COPD patients (≥35 years) with persistent symptoms [COPD Assessment Tool (CAT) ≥10 and/or modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) ≥2] and moderate or severe pulmonary obstruction [30%≤ forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percentage of predicted value (FEV1%) <80%] despite dual therapies were switched to BDP/FF/GB DPI and followed for 6 months. The primary endpoint was improvement in CAT scores. Secondary endpoints included lung function, treatment adherence, dyspnea and the percentage of patients achieving CAT score reduction ≥2 from baseline. A total of 363 patients completed the study. Mean CAT scores improved significantly from 23.0 at baseline to 16.9 (P<0.001), regardless of prior dual therapy or inhaler type. Mean (± SD) FEV1% increased from 47.6%±11.9% to 53.2%±15.75% (P<0.001). Treatment adherence and dyspnea also showed significant improvement. Notably, 87.9% of participants achieved a CAT score reduction ≥2 points. The RESPONSE study showed that switching to BDP/FF/GB DPI was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms, lung function, and adherence in COPD patients inadequately controlled on dual therapy, supporting its role as a practical escalation option in routine care.

PMID 42865803
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PubMedAmerican journal of respiratory and critical care medicine2026-10-08

2026 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Strategy Report: Executive Summary and Key Changes.

Reddel Helen K HK, Allan Keith K, Bacharier Leonard B LB, Bonini Matteo M et al.

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Strategy Report provides a comprehensive, annually updated evidence-based approach to asthma diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and prevention across the lifespan. Its central approach is personalized, iterative care based on the Assess-Adjust-Review cycle for both symptom control and reduction of future risk (including severe exacerbations, persistent airflow limitation, and treatment-related harm). GINA emphasizes objective confirmation of diagnosis wherever possible, and regular assessment of lung function, inhaler technique, adherence, multimorbidity, risk factors (including Type-2 biomarkers), and patient goals and preferences. GINA strongly recommends that all adults, adolescents, children and most preschoolers with asthma should receive inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing treatment. GINA recommends against short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA)-only treatment. For adults/adolescents, GINA Track 1 using low-dose ICS-formoterol, an anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR), either as-needed-only (AIR-only) or as maintenance-and-reliever therapy (MART), is preferred because of its substantial reduction in severe exacerbations compared with SABA-based regimens, and its simplicity. Age-specific treatment pathways in children also emphasize ICS-containing therapy and exacerbation prevention. For difficult-to-treat and severe asthma, GINA provides structured guidance, emphasizing diagnostic verification, optimization of modifiable factors, inflammatory phenotyping, biologic therapy selection, and (as for all patients) systemic corticosteroid stewardship. Acute exacerbation care incorporates long-term preventive treatment, including post-discharge reassessment of management and action plan. Key 2026 updates include expanded AIR options for adults and children, revised guidance on severe asthma and selection of biologic treatment, and substantial updates to acute asthma management. GINA integrates evidence-based management with shared decision-making, self-management education, implementation, and global advocacy to reduce preventable asthma morbidity and mortality.

PMID 42847657
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PubMedRespiratory medicine2026-10-05

Early versus late escalation to extrafine BDP/FF/GB single-inhaler triple therapy in COPD: a real-world subgroup analysis by disease duration since diagnosis.

Rogliani Paola P, Brusselle Guy G, Stolz Daiana D, Piraino Alessio A et al.

The optimal timing for escalation to triple therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains undefined, often resulting in delayed treatment. Consequently, evidence on the effectiveness of early initiation is limited. This subgroup analysis used pooled patient-level data from six observational studies to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrronium bromide single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT) in COPD according to disease duration. Patients were stratified into three subgroups: ≤48 months (short), 49-96 months (intermediate), and ≥97 months (long-standing). Outcomes assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months post-SITT initiation included mean number of exacerbations, proportion of patients experiencing ≥1 exacerbation, and proportion achieving disease stability and control. Mean number of exacerbations decreased from the year prior to SITT initiation at all post-treatment time points across all subgroups, with the largest reductions observed in short disease patients, particularly at 12 months. Similarly, the proportion of patients experiencing ≥1 exacerbation decreased in all subgroups, with the lowest proportions observed in short disease patients. No differences between subgroups were observed at 3 and 6 months in the proportion of patients achieving disease stability and control; conversely, at 12 months the short disease subgroup showed significantly higher rates of disease stability and control compared with longer disease duration subgroups, suggesting that earlier SITT initiation may provide more sustained benefits. Early escalation to SITT in COPD may result in more durable sustained clinical benefits compared with later intervention, reducing exacerbations and maintaining disease stability and control up to 12 months.

PMID 42833477
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PubMedCancer treatment and research communications2026-10-05

Rethinking cardiovascular risk stratification in TKI-treated chronic myeloid leukemia.

Cordeanu Elena-Mihaela EM, Zheng Franck F, Ame Shanti S, Stephan Dominique D

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting BCR::ABL1 have transformed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) into a chronic condition with near-normal life expectancy, but peripheral artery disease (PAD) has emerged as a major source of morbidity, particularly with nilotinib and ponatinib. Current cardiovascular management relies on general population risk scores and ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, tools not designed to capture TKI-specific vascular biology or detect subclinical arterial damage. We appraise cardiovascular risk stratification tools and vascular imaging modalities in the context of TKI-treated CML, and propose an integrated algorithm combining dual risk scoring, ABI, and targeted femoral duplex ultrasound (DUS). Vascular outcome reporting in TKI trials is hampered by terminological inconsistency: Major Adverse Limb Events (MALE), the standard limb-specific endpoint in contemporary cardiovascular trials, has never been adopted in any TKI/CML publication. Existing risk scores (SCORE2, HFA-ICOS) neither capture TKI-accelerated atherosclerosis nor discriminate limb-specific risk. ABI detects only established stenosis and is further limited by TKI-induced medial arterial calcification. The femoral artery is both the earliest site of subclinical atherosclerosis and the preferential anatomical target of TKI-induced vascular damage; thus, femoral plaque detection may serve as a risk reclassification instrument. Because vascular risk differs by line of therapy and imaging resources are finite, screening should be targeted to patients in whom the result would change agent selection and preventive strategies. Integrating femoral DUS into cardiovascular risk stratification shifts the objective from diagnosing established disease to preventing it. Whether this translates into fewer events remains to be demonstrated.

PMID 42833183
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PubMedAttention, perception & psychophysics2026-10-02

Response variability reveals hidden social-category effects in facial-expression categorization.

Tipples Jason J

The "happy-face advantage" (HFA)-faster categorization of happy versus fearful expressions-is typically established using mean reaction times (RTs), which obscure the structure of the RT distribution. The present research examined how facial expression and social-category cues influence emotion categorization using ex-Gaussian modelling, decomposing RTs into mean (μ), variability (σ), and slow-tail responding (τ). Ex-Gaussian modelling revealed that expression effects were distributed across distinct components of the RT distribution. Whereas mean RT (μ) replicated the happy-face advantage, σ indexed systematic differences in response consistency and τ captured selective increases in unusually slow responses. These findings demonstrate that social-category influences on emotion categorization are distributed across multiple components of the RT distribution that remain hidden in conventional analyses of mean RT.

PMID 42823593
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