Treatment of respiratory diseases
A pharmaceutical composition for pulmonary delivery comprises glycopyrrolate in a controlled release formulation, wherein, on administration, the glycopyrrolate exerts its pharmacological effect over a period greater than 12 hours.
1. A method for treating a disease of the airways selected from COPD, asthma, and cystic fibrosis, wherein said method comprises pulmonary delivery, to a patient in need of such treatment, of a dry powder composition comprising microparticles of glycopyrrolate, wherein the composition is formulated so that one unit dose enables the glycopyrrolate to exert its pharmacological effect over a period of greater than 20 hours.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microparticles have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of less than 30 μm.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition additionally comprises large carrier particles.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the large carrier particles are lactose particles having a mass median aerodynamic diameter of greater than 90 μm.
5. The method, according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a hydrophobic material.
6. The method, according to claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobic material is magnesium stearate.
7. The method, according to claim 1 , wherein a dose of less than 1 mg is administered to the patient.
8. The method, according to claim 1 , wherein glycopyrrolate is administered to the patient once per day.
9. The method, according to claim 1 , used to treat COPD.