AZ to file COPD combo in China and Japan

AstraZeneca is planning filings of its chronic obstructive pulmonary disease drug Bevespi Aerosphere in China and Japan, based on a new set of positive phase 3 trial results.

Bevespi Aerosphere (glycopyrronium+formoterol) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in lung function compared with its monotherapy components and placebo, taken twice daily through a pressurised metered-dose inhaler in moderate to severe COPD.

AZ will file the drug with regulators in Japan and China next year, based on data from PINNACLE 4 as well as previously reported trials.

The drug is already approved in the US for long-term maintenance treatment of COPD, and is also under review in Europe, with a decision expected in the second half of next year.

Combining a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) in a single inhaler, AZ paid Pearl Therapeutics $1.15 billion for Bevespi.

In Japan, Novartis’ Ultibro and GlaxoSmithKline’s LAMA/LABA combination Anoro, are approved in COPD maintenance.

Meanwhile in China older drugs such as salmeterol and formoterol are commonly used to manage COPD symptoms.

The global COPD market is becoming increasingly competitive – GSK’s COPD triple therapy Trelegy Ellipta has a US licence and Chiesi has got its COPD triple therapy Trimbow approved in Europe and is preparing for a US filing.

[caption id="attachment_32134" align="alignnone" width="180"] Colin Reisner[/caption]

Dr Colin Reisner, head of respiratory, global medicines development at AstraZeneca, said: “These positive results add to the strong established efficacy and safety profile of Bevespi Aerosphere in the treatment of patients with COPD. PINNACLE 4 will support our regulatory filings in Japan and China where respiratory diseases such as COPD remain a significant and growing public health burden with unmet treatment needs.”

But there is still much room for improvement in COPD treatments as existing therapies still only slow its progress.

UK biotech Verona hopes that its RPL554 COPD therapy could be a disease-modifying therapy when added to existing agents such as Boehringer Ingelheim’s Spiriva (tiotropium) and is pushing ahead with phase 3 trials after a £70 million IPO and private investment earlier this year.