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Ohtuvayre

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By Editorial Team

2 min read

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: January 2025 | Last updated: February 2025

Ohtuvayre™ (ensifentrine) is an inhaled medicine used to treat adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It improves breathing by relaxing the airways and reducing inflammation. Ohtuvayre is a long-term maintenance treatment. It cannot be used to treat sudden COPD symptoms.1

Ohtuvayre was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024. It works differently than other COPD treatments. This means it may provide added benefits when combined with other COPD treatments. Ohtuvayre can cause several side effects. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of Ohtuvayre.2

What are the ingredients in Ohtuvayre?

The active ingredient in Ohtuvayre is ensifentrine.3

How does Ohtuvayre work?

The active ingredient in Ohtuvayre, ensifentrine, is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Phosphodiesterases are enzymes that break down chemicals in our body called cyclic nucleotides. Cyclic nucleotides help relax airway muscles and reduce inflammation.3,4

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People with COPD often have low levels of cyclic nucleotides. Ohtuvayre increases your levels of cyclic nucleotides. This leads to:1,3

  • Airway muscle relaxation
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Improved COPD symptoms, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing
  • Reduced COPD flare-ups

Clinical trials showed that Ohtuvayre improves lung function in adults with moderate-to-severe COPD. It also reduces the rate of flare-ups and increases the time to your first flare-up. Some data also indicate that it improves quality of life.2,3

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effects of Ohtuvayre include:1,3

  • Back pain
  • High blood pressure
  • Bladder infection
  • Diarrhea

Ohtuvayre can cause sudden breathing problems. Get emergency care right away if you have sudden breathing problems after using Ohtuvayre.1,3

Ohtuvayre may also cause mental health problems and mood changes. Call your doctor if you experience:1,3

  • Thoughts of suicide or dying
  • Trouble sleeping
  • New or worse anxiety or depression
  • Attempts at suicide
  • Dangerous impulses
  • Other unusual changes in behavior or mood

These are not all the possible side effects of Ohtuvayre. Talk to your doctor about what to expect when taking Ohtuvayre. You should also call your doctor if you have any changes that concern you when taking Ohtuvayre.

Other things to know

Take Ohtuvayre as your doctor prescribes. It is typically taken twice daily using a standard jet nebulizer. Do not stop taking Ohtuvayre unless your doctor tells you to. Talk to your doctor if you need to use your rescue medication more often. Tell them if you do not get relief when using your inhaled rescue medications.1,3

Before starting Ohtuvayre, tell your doctor if you have:1,3

  • A history of mental health problems, including depression
  • Liver problems
  • Any allergies

Experts do not know whether Ohtuvayre is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or have plans to become pregnant.3

Ohtuvayre may interact with other medicines. Before beginning treatment for COPD, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs.

For more information, read the full prescribing information of Ohtuvayre.