FDA regulatory activities may have led to decreased LABA use

FDA implemented regulatory actions for long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs), such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), in 2005 and 2010. A new study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that these regulations may have led to a drop in use. Researchers observed more than 1.5 million patients who had continuous pharmacy benefits and diagnosis of asthma. They found that after the 2005 FDA regulatory activity, fixed-dose ICS-LABA agents decreased by a statistically significant 0.98 percentage points in children and 1.24 points in adults.