TOKYO, July 27, 2013 /CNW/ –

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1203847/first-in-class-once-daily-dual-bronchodilator-ultibro-breezhaler-qva149-gains-positive-chmp-opinion-for-the-treatment-of-copd

• QVA149 (indacaterol/glycopyrronium) is the first once-daily fixed-dose combination of both a LABA and a LAMA bronchodilator to gain positive CHMP opinion
• Pivotal Phase III IGNITE data showed QVA149 significantly improved lung function and patient-reported outcomes including breathlessness and rescue medication use, compared to current standard of care^[1]
• QVA149 demonstrated significantly reduced rates of COPD exacerbations and improved health-related quality of life compared to open-label tiotropium 18 mcg and glycopyrronium 50 mcg^[2],[3]

Sosei Group Corporation (“Sosei”; TSE Mothers Index: 4565) confirms the information released by Novartis that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion for approval of once-daily Ultibro^® Breezhaler^®(indacaterol 85 mcg/glycopyrronium 43 mcg delivered dose, equivalent to 110 mcg/50 mcg metered dose per capsule), as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ultibro Breezhaler was developed under the name of QVA149.

QVA149 is an investigational fixed dose combination of two bronchodilators, indacaterol, a long-acting beta₂-adrenergic agonist (LABA) and glycopyrronium, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA).http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1203847/first-in-class-once-daily-dual-bronchodilator-ultibro-breezhaler-qva149-gains-positive-chmp-opinion-for-the-treatment-of-copd

QVA149 is an inhaled fixed dose combination product for the treatment of COPD, an irreversible and chronic obstruction of the airways. The product combinesNVA237, the long acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) licensed to Novartis by Sosei in 2005, together with Novartis’ long acting beta agonist (LABA), indacaterol, now approved in more than 80 countries, including EU, Japan and the USA.

Both NVA237 and indacaterol are once-daily bronchodilators but act on different receptors in the lung thereby offering the potential in combination to provide additional patient benefit.

Phase III studies (IGNITE: Indacaterol and GlycopyrroNium bromide clInical sTudiEs) for QVA149 is one of the largest international patient registration programs in COPD comprising 10 studies and including more than 7,000 subjects across 42 countries. Up to date, Novartis announced positive results of five Phase III studies: SHINE, BRIGHT, ENLIGHTEN, ILLUMINATE and SPARK. IGNITE data demonstrated the efficacy of QVA149 and showed a superior effect on lung function and patient-reported outcomes versus comparators.

QVA149 was filed for approval in Europe in October, and in Japan in November 2012. The US filing is expected at the end of 2014.

About COPD

COPD is a chronic obstruction of the airways which in the developed world is caused primarily by smoking. Symptoms include chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema which slowly progress and eventually lead to a largely irreversible loss of lung function. Worldwide, COPD is estimated to affect a total of 210 million people and is projected to become the third leading cause of death by 2020.

Market Overview

COPD is a large and fast expanding market which is estimated to be worth around $9 billion (2008) and is expected to reach $14 billion by 2014 as a result of better recognition of the disease and improved treatment options.

indacaterol

glycoprronium