Vectura Group plc email alerting service
•GLOW2 study shows NVA237 provides superior 24-hour
bronchodilation to placebo (p < 0.001) with comparable efficacy
to open-label tiotropium at 12 weeks
•NVA237 shown to be well-tolerated in patients with
moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)
•Phase III data support first regulatory submission by
Novartis for NVA237 by end of 2011
Chippenham, UK – 30 June 2011: Vectura Group plc (“Vectura”; LSE: VEC), announces that results reported today by Novartis from the pivotal Phase III GLOW2 clinical trial show that once-daily NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) 50 mcg significantly improved lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) relative to placebo (p < 0.001), with similar efficacy to open-label tiotropium.
GLOW2 was a 52-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study involving 1,066 patients to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of NVA237 in patients with COPD. Patients were randomized into three treatment arms receiving either once-daily NVA237 50 mcg, placebo, or once-daily open-label tiotropium 18 mcg*. They were also permitted to use COPD background therapy and rescue medication.
The study met its primary endpoint by demonstrating superior 24-hour bronchodilation to placebo at 12 weeks measured by trough FEV1 (i.e. forced expiratory volume in one second), a standard measure of lung function. NVA237 was delivered using the Concept1® device, a single-dose dry-powder inhaler.
NVA237 was also compared with open-label tiotropium (Spiriva® HandiHaler®**) 18 mcg, another once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) indicated for the treatment of COPD. Results show that NVA237 produced similar improvements in lung function to tiotropium.
Key secondary endpoints were improvement in breathlessness assessed using the Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) at 26 weeks, and improved quality of life as measured by the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at 52 weeks. Important secondary endpoints were time to first COPD exacerbation and use of rescue medication during 52 weeks of treatment. The study met all of these endpoints.
The GLOW2 study also showed that NVA237 was well-tolerated with a similar incidence of adverse events for patients treated with NVA237, placebo and open-label tiotropium. Further efficacy and safety results from GLOW2 will be presented at a scientific congress in 2012, and the data will be used to support an application for regulatory approval to be filed before the end of 2011.
In April 2011 Novartis announced results from the first Phase
III clinical trial with NVA237. The pivotal double-blind 26-week
GLOW1 study met its primary endpoint by demonstrating superior
bronchodilation to placebo at 12 weeks measured by trough
FEV1
(p < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events was similar in
NVA237-treated patients and in those receiving placebo. Further
data from GLOW1 will be presented at the European Respiratory
Society congress in Amsterdam in September 2011.
Dr Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive of Vectura, commented:
“GLOW2 is the second NVA237 Phase III study to meet its primary endpoint and further endorses the benefit of NVA237 in COPD patients. We look forward to Novartis filing the product in 2011, followed by the filing of QVA149, the fixed-dose combination of NVA237 and indacaterol, expected to occur in 2012.”
– Ends –
*Note that GLOW2 included comparison with open-label tiotropium
as an exploratory arm but the study was not powered to show
statistical superiority of NVA237 versus tiotropium.
**Spiriva® and HandiHaler® are registered trademarks of
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG.
Enquiries
Vectura Group plc
+44 (0)1249 667700
Chris Blackwell, Chief Executive
Anne Hyland, Chief Financial Officer
Julia Wilson, Director of Investor Relations
Financial Dynamics
+44 (0)20 7831 3113
Ben Atwell
Susan Quigley
Notes for editors
About the NVA237 Licence Agreement with Novartis
NVA237 was licensed to Novartis in April 2005 by Vectura and its
co-development partner, Sosei. Novartis intends to launch NVA237 in
2012 as a once-daily monotherapy for COPD and as a combination with
its once-daily, long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), indacaterol, known
as QVA149, in 2013. Vectura believes that it could be the first
once-daily LAMA/LABA combination to come to market for COPD. The
dual activity of a muscarinic antagonist and a beta-adrenergic
agonist promises to be a potent bronchodilator and, with convenient
once-daily dosing as a co-formulation, has the potential to improve
compliance and address a large and unmet need for COPD
sufferers.
NVA237 entered Phase III trials in June 2009 followed by QVA149 in April 2010, triggering a total of $15m in milestone receipts to Vectura. Novartis received European regulatory approval for indacaterol (Onbrez® Breezhaler® - indacaterol maleate) in November 2009 and it is now approved in more than 50 countries and available in more than 20. US approval is dependent on an FDA decision expected in July 2011. To date, Vectura has received $30m from Novartis and, under the terms of the licence, could receive up to an additional $157.5m for achievement of regulatory and commercialisation targets for both the monotherapy and the combination product. In addition, royalties on product sales will be received in the event of successful product launches.
About COPD
COPD is a progressive, life-threatening disease associated with
tobacco smoking, air pollution or occupational exposure, which
causes obstruction of airflow in the lungs resulting in
debilitating bouts of breathlessness. COPD affects 210 million
people worldwide and is projected to be the third leading cause of
death by 2020. Although often considered a disease of the elderly,
research has shown that a majority of COPD patients are under the
age of 65 when they are likely to be at the peak of their earning
power and family responsibilities.
About Vectura
Vectura Group plc develops inhaled therapies principally for the
treatment of respiratory diseases. Vectura’s main products
target diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), a growing market that is currently estimated to be
worth in excess of $25 billion.
Vectura has six products marketed by its partners and a portfolio of drugs in clinical and pre-clinical development, a number of which have been licensed to major pharmaceutical companies. Vectura has development collaborations and licence agreements with several pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Sandoz (the generics arm of Novartis), Baxter and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Vectura seeks to develop certain programmes itself where this will optimise value. Vectura’s formulation and inhalation technologies are available to other pharmaceutical companies on an out-licensing basis where this complements Vectura’s business strategy.
For further information, please visit Vectura’s website at www.vectura.com
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements about the discovery, development and commercialisation
of products. Various risks may cause Vectura’s actual results
to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements, including: adverse results in clinical
development programmes; failure to obtain patent protection for
inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or
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partners to develop and commercialise products and services;
difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market
products and services resulting from development efforts; the
requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and
development and to expand commercialisation activities; and product
initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors,
prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any
forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Posted: June 2011
