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formoterol (Forair / Atimos / CHF 1531)

✓ Approved

Novartis AG · ADRB2 · Small Molecule

What is formoterol?

formoterol is a small molecule developed by Novartis AG. It is approved for therapeutic indications via inhaled or topical.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesForair, Atimos, CHF 1531
CompanyNovartis AG
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetADRB2
RouteInhaled, Topical
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Novartis AG

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

formoterol acts on 1 molecular target:

ADRB2adrenoceptor beta 2 (B2AR, ARB2)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

formoterol is developed for 2 unique indications across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disordersAsthma✓ Approved
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disordersChronic obstructive pulmonary disease✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedEuropean heart journal. Digital health2026-09-18

Automated assessment of echocardiograms to aid diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Venema Constantijn Sebastiaan CS, Venner Max M, Achten Anouk A, Ouwerkerk Wouter W et al.

Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using the HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scores remains challenging in clinical practice and relies on echocardiographic assessment. We aimed to determine whether diagnostic scoring based on automated deep learning interpretation of echocardiograms performs similar to manual measurements in diagnosing HFpEF. We analysed echocardiograms using an automated deep learning algorithm and manually in three cohorts: a test cohort (102 HFpEF patients diagnosed by right heart catheterization and echocardiography), an ambulatory validation cohort (129 HFpEF patients), and a diagnostic validation cohort (n = 427, of which 182 HFpEF and 245 non-HFpEF patients). We evaluated correlations between automated and manual HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scores across cohorts, their correlation with pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (PCWP), and compared diagnostic accuracy using the area under the curve (AUC). Automated and manual measurements showed good agreement across cohorts, with good correlations between HFA-PEFF (0.78-0.86) and H2FPEF (0.96-0.98) scores and similar correlations with PCWP. One in five patients with high-likelihood HFpEF based on manual HFA-PEFF scores was classified as intermediate-likelihood by automated scores due to lower estimated left atrial volumes, without consistent interaction with atrial fibrillation. Areas under the curve for automated HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scores did not consistently differ from manual scores {0.70 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-0.74] vs. 0.71 [95% CI: 0.66-0.75] and 0.78 [95% CI: 0.73-0.82] vs. 0.75 [95% CI: 0.71-0.80], respectively}. The HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scores based on automated and manual echocardiographic analysis showed similar diagnostic accuracy, suggesting automated HFpEF diagnosis using deep learning analysis of echocardiograms is feasible.

PMID 42756927
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PubMedJACC. Advances2026-09-18

The LEDA Score: An Integrated Echocardiographic Score for the Diagnosis of HFpEF.

Palka Przemysław P, Hilling-Smith Roland R, Bell Brendan B, Incani Alex A et al.

Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging because clinical findings may not reflect hemodynamic disease expression. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of LEDA (Left ventricular concentricity, E/e', left ventricle-to-left atrium Diastasis volume ratio, left Atrial reservoir function), an integrated echocardiographic score, for identifying HFpEF and elevated left-sided filling pressure (LSFP). In this prospective single-center study, 171 selected patients with unexplained dyspnea underwent echocardiography and an invasive hemodynamic assessment within 24 hours. HFpEF was defined by symptoms or signs of heart failure with elevated levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and/or invasively measured LSFP ≥15 mm Hg. LEDA integrates left ventricular concentricity, E/e', left ventricular-left atrial diastasis coupling, and left atrial reservoir function. Diagnostic performance was compared with H2FPEF (Heavy, Hypertensive, Atrial fibrillation, Pulmonary hypertension, Elder, Filling pressure score) and HFA-PEFF (Heart Failure Association Pre-test assessment, Echocardiography & natriuretic peptide, Functional testing, Final etiology diagnostic algorithm); 2025 American Society of Echocardiography diastolic criteria were analyzed as an echocardiographic filling-pressure framework rather than as a standalone HFpEF diagnostic score. HFpEF was present in 42% of patients. LEDA showed higher discrimination for HFpEF than for H2FPEF, HFA-PEFF, and American Society of Echocardiography criteria, with area under the curve of 0.85, 0.74, 0.74, and 0.61, respectively (P ≤ 0.010). At LEDA ≥3, the positive likelihood ratio was 7.4, compared with 3.0, 1.8, and 1.6, respectively. For invasive LSFP endpoints, LEDA achieved area under the curve up to 0.90, specificity up to 95.5%, and positive likelihood ratio up to 16.3. In this selected cohort undergoing an invasive hemodynamic assessment for diagnostic uncertainty, LEDA showed stronger diagnostic performance than contemporary HFpEF diagnostic algorithms and an echocardiographic filling-pressure framework. External validation is required before application to broader outpatient populations.

PMID 42759312
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PubMedPacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE2026-09-18

Characteristics of Low-Voltage Zones in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Tamura Shuntaro S, Nakatani Yosuke Y, Soga Jin J, Iwai Ryutaro R et al.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexists with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and low-voltage zones (LVZs) in the atria represent atrial remodeling. However, the impact of HFpEF on the extent and distribution of LVZs and ablation outcomes remains unknown. To characterize LVZs in patients with HFpEF undergoing AF ablation and evaluate their association with arrhythmia recurrence. A total of 128 consecutive patients (66±12 years) who underwent AF ablation for the first time were retrospectively analyzed. HFpEF was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction >50% with a history of heart failure treatment or an HFA-PEFF score ≥5. Meanwhile, LVZs were defined as bipolar voltage <0.5 mV and quantified across five left atrial regions. Forty-seven patients (36.7%) were diagnosed with HFpEF. LVZs were significantly more extensive in the overall left atrium in the HFpEF group (16.3±13.5 vs. 8.2±7.6 cm2, p < 0.001), with the greatest difference being observed in the anterior wall (5.6±5.4 vs. 2.3±2.8 cm2, p < 0.001). During 9±4 months, arrhythmia recurrence rates did not differ significantly between HFpEF and non-HFpEF groups (12.8% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.310). Posterior wall isolation was more frequently performed in the HFpEF group (27.6% vs. 4.9%, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, HFpEF, age, and persistent AF were independent determinants of LVZ extent. AF patients with HFpEF exhibit more extensive LVZs, indicating advanced atrial remodeling. Despite differences in atrial substrate and ablation strategy, arrhythmia recurrence rates were comparable between patients with and without HFpEF.

PMID 42754969
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PubMedPlants (Basel, Switzerland)2026-09-15

Biogeographical Differentiation and Key Drivers of the Home-Field Advantage in Cross-Habitat Litter Decomposition: A Global Meta-Analysis.

Mei Tianjiao T, He Xingbing X, Lin Yonghui Y, He Zaihua Z et al.

Global climate change and human activities have jointly exacerbated habitat fragmentation and expanded ecotones, significantly increasing the frequency and intensity of cross-habitat litter decomposition. The phenomenon whereby litter decomposes faster in its habitat of origin ("home") than in other habitats ("away") is known as the home-field advantage (HFA) effect. In-depth exploration of its core mechanisms and key drivers is crucial for revealing the spatial heterogeneity of global carbon and nitrogen cycles and for refining the theory of substance cycling in forest ecosystems. This study integrated 1410 observations from 102 published studies and used meta-analysis to systematically evaluate global patterns, biogeographical differentiation, and key drivers of the HFA effect. The results show that the HFA exhibits significant biogeographical differentiation and is driven by multiple factors. Globally, we found a significant positive HFA (LnRR = 0.0576, p < 0.05), with decomposition-related metrics (e.g., mass loss, decomposition rate) being 5.9% higher at home than away. The strength of the HFA effect shows significant dependence on climate and vegetation types. Regarding vegetation type, significant home-field advantages were observed for coniferous forests (10.15%), deciduous broadleaved forests (8.31%), and evergreen broadleaved forests (6.57%), while no significant differences were detected for shrublands or grasslands. Regarding climate type, subtropical (6.46%), temperate (9.20%), and cold/highland climates (9.53%) exhibited significantly higher home-site effects, whereas tropical and arid/semi-arid climates showed no significant differences. All analyses demonstrated substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 65.5-98.3%). This study also systematically analyzed the associations of three core factor categories (environmental factors such as elevation and precipitation, litter chemical composition, and soil chemical properties) with HFA effect. Among these factors, Litter C/P and Litter N/P were verified as significant positive regulatory factors governing the HFA effect. In conclusion, the driving mechanism of the HFA exhibits systemic characteristics that manifest as the interactive and synergistic effects of multiple factors rather than the independent control of a single factor. Specifically, climate and vegetation types jointly dominate the formation of its macro-geographical patterns, while local abiotic factors (e.g., altitude, precipitation) and litter properties (e.g., chemical composition) further and precisely regulate the strength of the HFA effect through complex interactions. Based on a systematic evaluation using meta-analysis, this study provides an important theoretical basis and data support for understanding the driving mechanisms of the HFA effect in cross-habitat litter decomposition across different ecosystems.

PMID 42739483
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PubMedBehavioural pharmacology2026-09-15

Formoterol attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced mnemonic impairment in the delayed nonmatch to position task in rats.

McAuslan Matthew M, Kozareva Danka D, Dunphy-Doherty Fionn F, Corrigan Myles M et al.

The delayed nonmatch to position (DNMTP) task is an instrumental learning paradigm applied to assess higher executive functions including attention and working memory in rats. In this study, the effect of systemic challenge with the acute inflammatory stimulus [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 0.25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally] was assessed in Wistar rats on performance in the DNMTP task. By means of validation, the effect of treatment with the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine [0.02 mg/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.)], known to disrupt performance in the task, and its reversal by coadministration of the cognitive-enhancing agent and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) were confirmed. Sex differences emerged between males' and females' mnemonic response to LPS 24-h postadministration with males showing reduced performance in the DNMTP task at higher working memory loads compared with females. Noradrenaline is an endogenous neurotransmitter with innate anti-inflammatory properties. The impact of targeting the noradrenergic system with the β2-adrenoceptor agonist Formoterol was further assessed on LPS-induced cognitive impairment in the DNMTP task. Coadministration of Formoterol (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) attenuated LPS-driven mnemonic impairments in males but not females. Overall, the results show the DNMTP task is a paradigm sensitive to acute systemic inflammation and indicate that Formoterol may have useful anti-inflammatory properties in mitigating inflammatory-associated cognitive impairment.

PMID 42740448
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PubMedPharmacology2026-09-15

Comparative analysis of infarct-reducing properties of ß1 -, ß2 -, and ß3 -adrenergicreceptor ligands in ischemia and reperfusion of the heart.

Voronkov NIkita S NS, Maslov Leonid N LN, Naryzhnaya Natalia V NV, Mukhomedzyanov Alexander V AV

In-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock can reach 50%. This is because there are currently no drugs approved for clinical use that can radically reduce infarction size and prevent the development of cardiogenic shock. β- Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) ligands could become such drugs. This article presents a comparative study of the cardioprotective properties of β-AR ligands in ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) of the heart. The study was performed in male Wistar rats. Coronary artery occlusion (CAO, 45 min) and reperfusion (120 min) were carried out in anesthetized animals. Fifteen minutes before CAO the following β-AR ligands were injected intravenously: the selective β 1 -AR antagonist atenolol, β 1 - and β 2 -AR antagonist sotalol, β 1 -, β 2 -, and β 3 -AR antagonist bupranolol, selective β 2 -AR antagonist ICI-118,551, selective β 3 -AR antagonist L- 748,337, and selective β 2 -AR agonist formoterol. It was evaluated the infarct size/area at risk (IS/AAR) ratio. Sotalol, bupranolol, atenolol, ICI-118,551, and L-748,337 decreased heart rate. Formoterol increased heart rate. Atenolol only reduced the IS/AAR ratio. β 1 -AR blockade increases cardiac tolerance to I/R in vivo. β 2 -AR blockade and β 2 - AR stimulation do not affect cardiac resistance to I/R in vivo. β 3 -AR blockade does not affect cardiac resistance to I/R in vivo.

PMID 42743088
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