GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) will present extensive data from across its respiratory portfolio, pipeline and early phase research programmes at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) conference in San Diego, USA, 19-23 May 2018.
Data presented in 61 abstracts provide evidence on optimising the treatment and understanding of lung diseases.
Dr. Hal Barron, Chief Scientific Officer and President R&D, GSK said: “We have a comprehensive portfolio of innovative respiratory medicines that are used by millions of patients worldwide who suffer from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The data presented at ATS demonstrate the breadth of activities being undertaken by GSK to improve patient outcomes and generate evidence that will help answer some of the key questions in respiratory medicine.”
Leading research efforts to support the role of biologics in respiratory diseases
GSK is at the forefront of biologics respiratory research, using targeted approaches to improve the management of a range of respiratory disease sub-types. This includes the development of first-in-class anti-IL5 biologic Nucala (mepolizumab) for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma and ongoing investigation of its potential in other eosinophilic driven diseases.
- New evidence from COLUMBA, the first long-term study of an anti-IL5 biologic treatment, will be presented evaluating the effect of Nucala on exacerbations and asthma control for up to 4.5 years.
- Meta-analyses of the METREX and METREO studies evaluating the use of mepolizumab in the treatment of eosinophilic COPD will also be profiled.
Defining the right COPD treatment for patients
The landmark IMPACT study was the first to directly compare single inhaler triple therapy to members of two different classes of dual therapy with all treatments delivered once-daily and in the same inhaler type, advancing the evidence that informs the treatment of patients with COPD.
- Results from IMPACT will be presented showing the effect of once-daily single inhaler triple therapy Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol ‘FF/UMEC/VI’) on endpoints including exacerbations, lung function and quality of life.
- Evidence of the effect on on-treatment, all-cause mortality will also be shared.
Optimising medicine delivery
GSK’s Ellipta inhaler platform was developed to optimise medicine delivery in a consistent device across a portfolio of once-daily medicines for COPD and asthma.
New results from patient-handling studies will be presented assessing outcomes for single Ellipta inhaler use compared to multiple inhaler use.
Further results from patient preference and inhaler teaching time studies will also be presented.
Developing medicines for the future
GSK is working to target underlying disease-driving biological processes to shape development of future generations of medicines.
- New research exploring the potential of inhaled PI3Kδ inhibitor nemiralisib in treating acute COPD exacerbations will be presented, including results on lung function and re-exacerbations in exacerbating COPD patients.
- Emerging evidence from the Galaxy collaboration programme will provide new insights into the pathophysiological features of respiratory diseases and disease progression risk factors.
In total, GSK will present data from 61 abstracts, including five oral presentations and 42 poster presentations.
About asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma affects 358 million people worldwide. Despite medical advances, more than half of patients continue to experience poor control and significant symptoms impacting their daily life. It is estimated that 5-10% of all asthma patients have severe asthma.
The causes of asthma are not completely understood but likely involve an interaction between a person’s genetic make-up and the environment. Key risk factors are inhaled substances that provoke allergic reactions or irritate the airways.
About COPD
COPD is a progressive lung disease that is thought to affect around 384 million people worldwide.
For people living with COPD, the inability to breathe normally can consume their daily lives and make simple activities, like walking upstairs, an everyday struggle. Patients with COPD suffer from symptoms of breathlessness and many have a significant risk of exacerbations. Managing these aspects of the disease drives physician treatment choice.
Long-term exposure to inhaled irritants that damage the lungs and the airways are usually the cause of COPD. Cigarette smoke, breathing in second hand smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes or dust from the environment or workplace can all contribute to COPD. Most people who have COPD are at least 40 years old when symptoms begin.
Every person with COPD is different, with different needs, different challenges and different goals. Understanding this and providing support to help meet these needs is the foundation of GSK’s work.
GSK’s commitment to respiratory disease
GSK has led the way in developing innovative medicines to advance the management of asthma and COPD for nearly 50 years. Over the last five years we have launched six innovative medicines responding to continued unmet patient need, despite existing therapies. This is an industry-leading portfolio in breadth, depth and innovation, developed to reach the right patients, with the right treatment.
We remain at the cutting-edge of scientific research into respiratory medicine, working in collaboration with patients and the scientific community to offer innovative medicines aimed at helping to treat patients’ symptoms and reduce the risk of their disease worsening. While respiratory diseases are clinically distinct, there are important pathophysiological features that span them, and our ambition is to have the most comprehensive portfolio of medicines to address a diverse range of respiratory diseases. To achieve this, we are focusing on targeting the underlying disease-driving biological processes to develop medicines with applicability across multiple respiratory diseases. This approach requires extensive bioinformatics, data analytic capabilities, careful patient selection and stratification by phenotype in our clinical trials.
About Nucala (mepolizumab)
Nucala 100mg is the market leading biologic treatment for patients with severe eosinophil asthma. It is approved in over 40 countries including the EU, US, and Japan and has been prescribed to over 18,000 patients in the US. It has been studied in over 3,000 patients in 16 clinical trials across a number of eosinophilic conditions. Nucala 300mg was recently approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with a rare disease called eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). An sBLA has also been filed for the treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is currently being investigated for severe hypereosinophilic syndrome and nasal polyposis.
In the US, Nucala (100mg fixed dose subcutaneous injection of mepolizumab) is licensed as an add-on maintenance treatment for patients with severe asthma aged 12 years and older, and with an eosinophilic phenotype. Nucala (3x 100mg subcutaneous injection of mepolizumab) is licensed for the treatment of adult patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Nucala is not approved for the relief of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus. Full US Prescribing Information is available at US Prescribing Information Nucala.
GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com/about-us.
