Novartis’ COPD drug showed “sustained improvements” in phase 3

Novartis has presented data for its chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment, Ultibro Breezhaler, which demonstrates significant improvements in lung function, shortness of breath and health-related quality of life for patients. The global pharma company is committed to addressing the unmet medical needs of COPD patients and improving their quality of life by providing innovative medicines and devices.

The IGNITE phase 3 clinical trial program involved 4891 COPD patients, and the results showed that Novartis' Ultibro Breezhaler (investigational QVA149) provided "superior, rapid and sustained improvements in lung function, and significantly reduced shortness of breath, compared to placebo, once-daily indacaterol maleate 150 mcg, glycopyrronium 50 mcg, open-label (OL) tiotropium 18 mcg and twice-daily salmeterol / fluticasone fixed dose combination (FDC SFC) 50 mcg/500 mcg. These improvements were maintained throughout the duration of the trials."

"COPD is known to affect an estimated 210 million people worldwide and is projected to be the third leading cause of death by 2020. Many patients find COPD symptoms really tough to cope with – even if they're already taking treatment. Novartis is pleased that these new analyses further support that the efficacy of dual therapy, which has the potential to make a real difference to peoples' lives."

Tim Wright, Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

These data were part of 39 respiratory abstracts presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

QVA149 recently received a positive opinion for approval from the European Medicine Agency's (EMA) Committee for the Human use of Medicinal Products (CHMP) in July 2013 as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with COPD.