Inhaled aztreonam and an adapted delivery device in the treatment of cystic fibrosis
https://doi.org/10.18093/0869-0189-2025-35-5-724-730
Abstract
Respiratory damage in cystic fibrosis (CF) is the result of a vicious circle of chronic infection, severe inflammation, and rapidly progressing bronchial obstruction. These processes are the main cause of high mortality associated with the disease. With age, the number of patients infected with non-fermenting gram-negative microflora increases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common gram-negative pathogen infecting the respiratory tract of patients with CF. The introduction of inhaled antipseudomonal antibiotics has changed the course of the disease and improved the lives of patients. The aim. The objective of the review was to study the role of aztreonam lysine for inhalation (AZLI) in the treatment of patients with CF based on an analysis of literary sources. Methods. A search for publications on AZLI was conducted in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, as well as in the PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases using the queries “inhaled aztreonam” and “cystic fibrosis”. Results. The results of pre-registration clinical placebo-controlled phase 3 studies that led to AZLI’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval were found and analyzed. The review also included reports of post-marketing studies comparing AZLI with the existing “gold standard” of inhaled antibacterial therapy for CF – inhaled Tobramycin. The role of the adapted AZLI delivery device, which creates an innovative drug-delivery device combination to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect, is separately noted. Conclusion. It is concluded that the inclusion of AZLI in the treatment program for CF accompanied by P. aeruginosa infection can further improve the clinical and functional characteristics and quality of life of the patients.
Keywords
About the Authors
E. L. AmelinaRussian Federation
Elena L. Amelina, Candidate of Medicine, Head of the Cystic Fibrosis Laboratory
Orekhovyy bul’var 28, Moscow, 115682, tel.: (926) 205-03-91
Competing Interests:
The authors did not declare any conflict of interest.
E. L. Titova
Russian Federation
Elena L. Titova, Candidate of Medicine, Founder and Medical Director
ul. Novocheremushkinskaya 49, room No.XXXIV, Moscow, 117418, tel.: (985) 925-91-90
Competing Interests:
The authors did not declare any conflict of interest.
R. U. Kagazezhev
Russian Federation
Rezuan U. Kagazezhev, Рostgraduate Student, Cystic Fibrosis Laboratory
Orekhovyy bul’var 28, Moscow, 115682, tel.: (965) 496-28-82
Competing Interests:
The authors did not declare any conflict of interest.
References
1. Kondratyeva E.I., Amelina E.L., Krasovskiy S.A. et al. [Cystic fibrosis]. In: Chuchalin A.G., ed. [Respiratory medicine: a manual]. 3rd Ed. Moscow: Pul'moMedia; 2024. Vol. 2: 291–324. DOI: 10.18093/978-5-6048754-6-9-2024-2-291-324 (in Russian).
2. De Rose V. Mechanisms and markers of airway inflammation in cystic fibrosis. Eur. Respir. J. 2002; 19 (2): 333–340. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.02.00229202.
3. Blanchard A.C., Waters V.J. Microbiology of cystic fibrosis airway disease. Semin. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2019; 40 (6): 727–736. DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1698464.
4. Heijerman H., Westerman E., Conway S.et al. Inhaled medication and inhalation devices for lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis: a European consensus. J. Cyst. Fibros. 2009; 8 (5): 295–315. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2009.04.005.
5. Smith S., Rowbotham N.J. Inhaled anti-pseudomonal antibiotics for long-term therapy in cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2022; (11): CD001021. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001021.pub4.
6. Treggiari M.M., Rosenfeld M., Mayer-Hamblett N. et al. Early anti-pseudomonal acquisition in young patients with cystic fibrosis: rationale and design of the EPIC clinical trial and observational study. Contemp. Clin. Trials. 2009; 30 (3): 256–268. DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2009.01.003.
7. Ratjen F., Munck A., Kho P., Angyalosi G. ELITE Study Group Treatment of early Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in patients with cystic fibrosis: the ELITE trial. Thorax. 2010; 65 (4): 286–291. DOI: 10.1136/thx.2009.121657.
8. GILEAD. U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves Cayston® (aztreonam for inhalation solution) for the improvement of respiratory symptoms in cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 2010. Available at: https://www.gilead.com/news/news-details/2010/us-food-and-drug-administration-approves-caystonr--aztreonam-for-inhalation-solution-for-the-improvement-of-respiratory--symptoms-in-cystic-fibrosis-patients-with-pseudomonas-aeruginosa
9. Cayston [package insert]. Foster City, CA: Gilead Sciences, Inc.; 2014.
10. Retsch-Bogart G.Z., Quittner A.L., Gibson R.L. et al. Efficacy and safety of inhaled aztreonam lysine for airway Pseudomonas in cystic fibrosis. Chest. 2009; 135 (5): 1223–1232. DOI: 10.1378/chest.08-1421.
11. McCoy K.S., Quittner A.L., Oermann C.M. et al. Inhaled aztreonam lysine for chronic airway Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008; 178 (9): 921–928. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200712-1804oc.
12. Oermann C.M., Retsch-Bogart G.Z., Quittner A.L. et al. An 18-month study of the safety and efficacy of repeated courses of inhaled aztreonam lysine in cystic fibrosis. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2010; 45 (11): 1121–1134. DOI: 10.1002/ppul.21301.
13. Assael B.M., Pressler T., Bilton D. et al. Inhaled aztreonam lysine vs. inhaled tobramycin in cystic fibrosis: a comparative efficacy trial. J. Cyst. Fibros. 2013; 12 (2): 130–140. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2012.07.006.
14. Keating C.L., Zuckerman J.B., Singh P.K. et al. Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptibility patterns and associated clinical outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis following approval of aztreonam lysine for inhalation. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2021; 65 (3): e02327-20. DOI: 10.1128/AAC.02327-20.
15. CFDB – Cystic Fibrosis DataBase. Inhaled antibiotics in cystic fibrosis. May 18, 2025. Code: 101-102. Available at: https://www.cfdb.eu/en/topics/detail/code/101-102
16. Flume P.A., Clancy J.P., Retsch-Bogart G.Z. et al. Continuous alternating inhaled antibiotics for chronic Pseudomonal infection in cystic fibrosis. J. Cyst. Fibrosis. 2016; 15 (6): 809–815. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2016.05.001.
17. European Medicines Agency. Evaluation of Medicines for Human Use. Final assessment report for Cayston. Doc.Ref.: EMEA/461825/2009. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/assessment-report/cayston-epar-public-assessment-report_en.pdf
18. Varannai O., Gede N., Juhász M.F. et.al. Therapeutic approach of chronic Pseudomonas infection in cystic fibrosis – a network meta-analysis. Antibiotics (Basel). 2021; 10 (8): 936. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10080936.
19. [General characteristics of the medicinal product. Colistin, 80 mg, powder for solution for injection, infusion, and inhalation (1,000,000 U vials)]. LP-No.(005219)-(RG-RU) dated April 17, 2024. Available at: https://al-farma.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/ohlp-kolistimet-af-dlya-vrachei.pdf (in Russian).
20. Salanti G., Ades A.E., Ioannidis J.P.A. Graphical methods and numerical summaries for presenting results from multiple-treatment meta-analysis: an overview and tutorial. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 2011; 64 (2): 163–171. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.03.016.
21. Guha A. Transport and deposition of particles in turbulent and laminar flow. Annu. Rev. Fluid. Mech. 2008; 40: 311–341. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.fluid.40.111406.102220.
22. Lourenço R.V., Klimek M.F., Borowski C.J. Deposition and clearance of 2 micron particles in the tracheobronchial tree of normal subjects – smokers and nonsmokers. J. Clin. Invest. 1971; 50 (7): 1411–1420. DOI: 10.1172/JCI106624.
23. Boe J., Dennis J.H., O'Driscoll B.R. et al. European Respiratory Society guidelines on the use of nebulizers. Eur. Respir. J. 2001; 18 (1): 228–242. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.01.00220001.
Supplementary files
Review
For citations:
Amelina E.L., Titova E.L., Kagazezhev R.U. Inhaled aztreonam and an adapted delivery device in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. PULMONOLOGIYA. 2025;35(5):724-730. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18093/0869-0189-2025-35-5-724-730