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Kai-Michael Beeh,1 Piotr Kuna,2 Massimo Corradi,3 Isabelle Viaud,4 Alessandro Guasconi,4 George Georges4 1Insaf Respiratory Research Institute, Wiesbaden, Germany; 2Division of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Barlicki University Hospital, Łódź, Poland; 3Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; 4Global Clinical Development, Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, Parma, ItalyCorrespondence: Kai-Michael BeehInsaf Respiratory Research Institute, Wiesbaden, GermanyTel +49 611 9854347Email k.beeh@insaf-wi.deBackground: Three 52-week studies in COPD have assessed the efficacy and safety of single-inhaler extrafine formulation triple therapy combining beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), formoterol fumarate (FF) and glycopyrronium (G) delivered via pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI). BDP/FF/G is now being developed for delivery via multi-dose dry-powder inhaler (DPI; NEXThaler). This study aimed to demonstrate non-inferiority of BDP/FF/G DPI vs pMDI for lung function.Methods: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, three-way cross-over study in patients with COPD and post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 30– 80% predicted. Patients received BDP/FF/G 100/6/10μg via DPI and pMDI, and BDP/FF 100/6μg via pMDI, all two inhalations twice daily for four weeks, with treatments separated by two-week washout. The two co-primary objectives were to demonstrate non-inferiority between the two BDP/FF/G formulations for FEV1 area under the curve between 0 and 12 hours post-dose (AUC0-12h) normalized by time and trough FEV1 at 24 hours, both on Day 28. EudraCT 2017– 004405-41.Results: Of 449 patients screened, 366 were randomized, with 342 (93.4%) completing all three treatment periods. The primary objectives were met, with changes from baseline in FEV1 AUC0– 12h and trough FEV1 on Day 28 similar for the two BDP/FF/G formulations, and the confidence intervals for the difference lying entirely within the pre-specified non-inferiority criterion (– 50mL): – 20 (– 35, – 6) mL and 3 (– 15, 20) mL for AUC0– 12h and trough FEV1, respectively. BDP/FF/G pMDI and DPI were statistically superior to BDP/FF for these endpoints (p< 0.001). A similar proportion of patients experienced adverse events with each treatment (15.5%, 18.7% and 15.4% with BDP/FF/G DPI and pMDI, and BDP/FF, respectively); the majority were mild or moderate, with few related to treatment.Conclusion: Extrafine BDP/FF/G DPI and pMDI demonstrated similar efficacy and safety in patients with COPD, supporting the DPI formulation as a valid alternative.Keywords: adrenergic beta-2 receptor agonists, muscarinic antagonists, steroids, respiratory function tests, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In the interphasic nucleus chromosomes are non-randomly arranged within the nuclear space. Indeed, chromosomes are thought to be organised into “chromosome territories”. The size of a chromosome territory is roughly determined by its DNA content, but is also influenced by other constituents, such as their transcriptional status. Chromatin modifications and positioning of genetic loci in the nucleus plays a critical role in the control of gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests that the nucleus is structurally and functionally compartimentalized and desorganization of such a structure might play a major role in the emergence of human diseases such as cancer.

Chomatin remodeling multi-protein complexes play a key regulatory role in many physiological processes such proliferation and differentiation. The alteration in the recruitment or in the function of one of these chromatin remodeling factors can lead to a proliferation defect, that might result from the aberrant activation or repression of key genes that regulate cell proliferation. In fact, aberrant chromatin remodeling leads to severe human diseases such as leukemia, epithelial cancers and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.