Introduction: Long-acting bronchodilators are the mainstay of pharmacological therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The choice of optimal bronchodilator therapy for COPD is increasingly difficult for clinicians as new treatments are marketed.

Areas covered: Inhaled glycopyrronium bromide (Seebri Breezhaler®) is a well-tolerated long-acting anti-muscarinic agent (LAMA) with a fast onset of action. In patients with moderate to severe COPD, glycopyrronium bromide has clinically important effects on level of FEV1, use of relief medication, day-time dyspnea scores, and probably also on health status. Furthermore, glycopyrronium bromide also has beneficial effects on dynamic hyperinflation and, probably by that, exercise tolerance. Glycopyrronium bromide has been shown to reduce the rate of exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD, although as a secondary outcome only.

Expert opinion: Once-daily inhaled glycopyrronium bromide has positive impact on important COPD outcomes, comparable to the effects of other marketed LAMAs. Once-daily administration may improve adherence, and glycopyrronium bromide has the potential for a role in the future management of COPD similar to that of other long-acting anti-muscarinic agents, including tiotropium. Studies of glycopyrronium bromide with exacerbation rate as the primary outcome of interest is needed.