β₂‐adrenoceptor agonists: current and future direction

<jats:p>Despite the passionate debate over the use of β<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐adrenoceptor agonists in the treatment of airway disorders, these agents are still central in the symptomatic management of asthma and COPD. A variety of β<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐adrenoceptor agonists with long half‐lives, also called ultra long‐acting β<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐adrenoceptor agonists (ultra‐LABAs; indacaterol, olodaterol, vilanterol, carmoterol, LAS100977 and PF‐610355) are currently under development with the hopes of achieving once‐daily dosing. It is likely that the once‐daily dosing of a bronchodilator would be a significant convenience and probably a compliance‐enhancing advantage, leading to improved overall clinical outcomes. As combination therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a LABA is important for treating patients suffering from asthma, and a combination with an inhaled long‐acting antimuscarinic agent (LAMA) is important for treating COPD patients whose conditions are not sufficiently controlled by monotherapy with a β<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐adrenoceptor agonist, some novel once‐daily combinations of LABAs and ICSs or LAMAs are under development.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>LINKED ARTICLES</jats:bold> This article is part of a themed issue on Respiratory Pharmacology. To view the other articles in this issue visit <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue-1">http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue‐1</jats:ext-link></jats:p>