Notes for editors
About Seebri® Breezhaler®:
Seebri® Breezhaler® (glycopyrronium bromide) is an effective and generally well-tolerated once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) indicated as maintenance therapy for the treatment of the symptoms of adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)18. Glycopyrronium bromide was licensed to Novartis in April 2005 by Sosei and its co-development partner Vectura.
Phase III data from the GLOW 1, 2 and 3 studies demonstrated that glycopyrronium 50 mcg delivered rapid and significant sustained improvements in lung function (measured by mean FEV1) post-morning dose on Day 1 compared with placebo and sustained this for 24 hours over 52 weeks, and significantly improved shortness of breath, heath related quality of life, exacerbations and exercise endurance versus placebo15,16,19 and was generally safe and well tolerated.
About QVA149:
QVA149 is an investigational inhaled, once-daily, fixed-dose combination of indacaterol maleate and glycopyrronium bromide. QVA149 is being investigated for the maintenance treatment of COPD in the Phase III IGNITE clinical trial program. IGNITE is one of the largest international clinical trial programs in COPD comprising 10 studies in total (ILLUMINATE, SHINE, BRIGHT, ENLIGHTEN, SPARK, BLAZE, ARISE, BEACON, RADIATE, LANTERN) with more than 7,000 patients across 42 countries14,17,20-30. The first eight studies have already completed in 2012. The studies are designed to investigate efficacy, safety and tolerability, lung function, exercise endurance, exacerbations, shortness of breath and quality of life.
All Novartis inhaled COPD portfolio products are being developed for delivery via the Breezhaler® device, a single-dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI)18, which has low air flow resistance, making it suitable for patients with airflow limitation31.The Breezhaler® device allows patients to hear, feel and see that they have taken the drug correctly18.
About COPD
COPD is a progressive disease associated mainly with tobacco smoking, air pollution or occupational exposure, which can cause obstruction of airflow in the lungs resulting in debilitating bouts of breathlessness. It affects an estimated 210 million people worldwide11 and is predicted to be the third leading cause of death by 20205. Although COPD is often thought of as a disease of the elderly, 50% of patients are estimated to be within the ages of 50 and 65, which means that half of the COPD population are likely to be impacted at the peak of their earning power and family responsibilities12.
References
1. Mahler D et al. Superior lung function with once-daily QVA149 translates into improvements in patient reported breathlessness compared with placebo and tiotropium in COPD patients: the BLAZE study. [ATS abstract 45308; Session C20; Date: May 21, 2013 Time: 8:15-10:45].
2. Wedzicha W et al. Efficacy and safety of QVA149 versus glycopyrronium and tiotropium in severe to very severe COPD: the SPARK study. [ATS abstract 40727; Session B23; Date: May 20, 2013 Time: 8:15 -9:15].
3. Wedzicha W et al. Dual bronchodilation with QVA149 reduces COPD exacerbations: the SPARK study. [ATS abstract 40759; Session B23; Date: May 20, 2013 Time: 8:15 -9:15].
4. Roche N et al. Rapid bronchodilation with once-daily glycopyrronium: the importance of optimizing lung function in the morning. [ATS abstract 40403; Session C45; Date: May 21, 2013 Time: 10:45-12:30].
5. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Updated 2013. http://www.goldcopd.org/guidelines-globalstrategy-for-diagnosis-management.html. Last accessed 2 May 2013.
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17. EMA, 2012. Onbrez® Breezhaler® (indacaterol) EU Summary of Product Characteristics. [Online] July 26, 2012 Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/001114/human_med_001219.jsp& mid=WC0b01ac058001d124. Last accessed 2 May 2013.
18. EMA. 2012. Seebri Breezhaler EU Summary of Product Characteristics. [Online] 17 October 2012. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR__Product_Information/human/002430/WC500133769.pdf. Last accessed 2 May 2013.
19. Beeh K et al. (2012). Once-daily NVA237 improves exercise endurance from first dose in patients with COPD: the GLOW3 trial. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis.7:503-513. 20. Beeh et al. QVA149 once daily improves exercise tolerance and lung function in patients with COPD: the BRIGHT study. [BTS Winter Meeting 2012, Poster presentation P191; Date: 6 December; Time: 16:00-17:30].
21. Vogelmeier CF et al. Efficacy and safety of once-daily QVA149 compared with twice-daily salmeterol/fluticasone in patients with COPD (ILLUMINATE): a randomised, double-blind, parallel group study. Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2013; 1 (1): 51-60
22. Bateman et al, 2012. Benefits of dual bronchodilation with QVA149 once daily versus placebo, indacaterol, NVA237 and tiotropium in patients with COPD: the SHINE study. Volume abstract 700179.
23. Dahl et al, 2012. QVA administered once daily provides significant improvements in lung function over 1 year in patients with COPD: The ENLIGHTEN study. Volume abstract 853405.
24. Novartis Pharma AG, data on file.QVA149 A2322 (BLAZE). s.l.:s.n.
25. Novartis Pharma AG, data on file.QVA149 A1301 (ARISE). s.l.:s.n.
26. ClinicalTrials.gov, n.d. Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of the Combination Product QVA149A Against the Concurrent Administration of the Individual Components, QAB149 and NVA237, in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (BEACON). [Online] Available at: www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01529632?term=BEACON&rank=6 [Accessed 2 May 2013].
27. Novartis Pharma AG, data on file. QVA149 A2339 (RADIATE).
28. ClinicalTrials.gov, n.d. A 26-week Treatment Randomized, Double-blind, Double Dummy, Parallel-group Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of QVA149 (Indacaterol / Glycopyrronium Bromide) Compared to Fluticasone/Salmeterol in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. [Online]. Available at: www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01709903?id=01709903&rank=1 Last accessed 9 May 2013
29. FDA Access Data, n.d.Spiriva Medical Review Part 2. [Online] Available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2004/21-395_Spiriva.cfm Last accessed 2 May 2013.
30. FDA Access Data, 2003.Advair Medical Review. [Online] Available at: www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2003/021077_S003_ADVAIR_DISKUS.pdf Last accessed 2 May 2013.
31. Pavkov et al. Characteristics of a capsule based dry powder inhaler for the delivery of indacaterol. CMRO 2010; 26; 11:2527–2533. doi:10.1185/03007995.2010.518916