Two medicines, side by side
Umeclidinium vs umeclidinium/vilanterol
Umeclidinium and umeclidinium/vilanterol are both labeled for COPD. Drugs@FDA records approvals of umeclidinium since 2014 and of umeclidinium/vilanterol since 2013. Pharmacies paid $7.35 per umeclidinium ellipta 62.5 mcg inhaler and $4.95 per umeclidinium-vilanterol ellipta 62.5-25 mcg inhaler (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, umeclidinium is an anticholinergic and umeclidinium/vilanterol a beta2-adrenergic agonist.
Check it at the source: the umeclidinium FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 13, 2023); the umeclidinium/vilanterol FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 2, 2023).
Highlights of the umeclidinium record
Umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta) · label of December 13, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsINCRUSE ELLIPTA is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). INCRUSE ELLIPTA is an anticholinergic indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 30, 2014
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $7.35 per inhaler
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the umeclidinium and vilanterol record
Umeclidinium and vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta) · label of June 2, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsANORO ELLIPTA is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Limitations of Use ANORO ELLIPTA is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm or for the treatment of asthma. The safety and effectiveness of ANORO ELLIPTA in asthma have not been established. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 18, 2013
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $4.95 per inhaler
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Umeclidinium label of December 13, 2023, Umeclidinium/vilanterol label of June 2, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do umeclidinium and umeclidinium/vilanterol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, umeclidinium is an anticholinergic and umeclidinium/vilanterol a beta2-adrenergic agonist.
How each works, in its label's words: Umeclidinium, “Umeclidinium is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, which is often referred to as an anticholinergic.”; Umeclidinium/vilanterol, “ANORO ELLIPTA ANORO ELLIPTA contains both umeclidinium and vilanterol.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Umeclidinium, “Excretion: The effective half-life after once-daily orally inhaled dosing is 11 hours.”; Umeclidinium/vilanterol, “Excretion: Umeclidinium: The effective half-life after once-daily oral dosing is 11 hours.”
| Umeclidinium | Umeclidinium/vilanterol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | COPD | COPD |
| Pharmacologic class | Anticholinergic | Anticholinergic, beta2-Adrenergic Agonist |
| How it works (label) | Umeclidinium is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, which is often referred to as an anticholinergic. It has similar affinity to the subtypes of muscarinic receptors M1 to M5. | ANORO ELLIPTA ANORO ELLIPTA contains both umeclidinium and vilanterol. The mechanisms of action described below for the individual components apply to ANORO ELLIPTA. |
| Half-life (label) | Excretion: The effective half-life after once-daily orally inhaled dosing is 11 hours. | Excretion: Umeclidinium: The effective half-life after once-daily oral dosing is 11 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 30, 2014 | December 18, 2013 |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $7.35 per inhaler (Umeclidinium ellipta 62.5 mcg inhaler) | $4.95 per inhaler (Umeclidinium-vilanterol ellipta 62.5-25 mcg inhaler) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | +2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,903 | 16,608 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Umeclidinium label, drug interactionsAvoid administration of INCRUSE ELLIPTA with other anticholinergic-containing drugs.
Umeclidinium/vilanterol label, drug interactionsAvoid administration of ANORO ELLIPTA with other anticholinergic-containing drugs.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to umeclidinium
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions