Novartis announces positive results at ATS

Novartis International AG Novartis Global Communications CH-4002 Basel Switzerland http://www.novartis.com

Basel, May 21, 2014 – Novartis announced today new data from the QUANTIFY study, which demonstrated the non-inferiority of Ultibro^® Breezhaler^® (indacaterol/glycopyrronium) 110/50 mcg compared to tiotropium 18 mcg plus formoterol 12 mcg in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients at week 26^1,2. Positive results from QUANTIFY are part of 16 Novartis respiratory abstracts being presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, May 16-21, 2014 in San Diego, CA, USA.

 

 

“These positive results from QUANTIFY demonstrate that once-daily Ultibro Breezhaler can provide better symptom control versus a combination of two individual treatments, tiotropium plus formoterol,” said Tim Wright, Global Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. “More patients on Ultibro Breezhaler had a meaningful improvement in health-related quality of life demonstrating superiority of our LABA/LAMA vs tiotropium plus formoterol.”

 

COPD affects an estimated 210 million people worldwide3 and is projected to be the third leading cause of death by 2020⁴. Symptoms can impose a significant burden on patients and reduce quality of life^5,6, but they are often inadequately managed. Treatments that are easy for patients to take and have reliable dose control whilst effectively managing the symptoms of COPD are important to improve patient outcomes^7-9.

 

QUANTIFY was a 26-week treatment, multicenter, randomized, parallel group, blinded study to assess the efficacy and safety of once-daily Ultibro Breezhaler in 934 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, versus the free-combination of tiotropium 18 mcg plus formoterol 12 mcg. The primary objective was to demonstrate non-inferiority of Ultibro Breezhaler in HRQoL as assessed by the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire-COPD

(SGRQ-C) versus tiotropium plus formoterol after 26 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints included transition dyspnea index (TDI) score, trough FEV₁, forced vital capacity (FVC) and safety and tolerability^1,2.

 

Ultibro Breezhaler (indacaterol/glycopyrronium bromide) is a novel, once-daily dual bronchodilator approved as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with COPD10. Ultibro Breezhaler is a fixed-dose combination of two bronchodilators, indacaterol 110 mcg, a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) and glycopyrronium 50 mcg, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). Ultibro Breezhaler was developed and previously known as QVA149. Clinical trials have shown that Ultibro Breezhaler offers statistically significant improvements in bronchodilation compared to treatments widely used as current standards of care, including salmeterol/fluticasone 500/50 mcg, in patients with no history of moderate or severe exacerbations over the last year11-13 and open-label tiotropium 18 mcg. Ultibro Breezhaler is currently approved for

use in over 30 countries, including the EU, Japan, Canada, Mexico and Australia.

 

Novartis is committed to addressing the unmet medical needs of COPD patients and improving their quality of life by providing innovative medicines and devices. The Novartis COPD portfolio includes Onbrez^® Breezhaler^® / ArcaptaTM NeohalerTM (indacaterol), Seebri^® Breezhaler^® (glycopyrronium bromide) and Ultibro Breezhaler

(indacaterol/glycopyrronium bromide), which are all indicated as maintenance treatments for COPD patients. Glycopyrronium bromide was exclusively licensed to Novartis in April 2005 by Vectura and its co-development partner Sosei.

 

Novartis continues development of respiratory products for delivery via the low resistance Breezhaler^® inhalation device, which makes it suitable for patients with different severities of airflow limitation⁹. The Breezhaler device allows patients to hear, feel and see that they have taken the full dose correctly^9,10. 

 

COPD is a progressive life-threatening disease that makes it hard to breathe, with symptoms that have a destructive impact on patients’ function and quality of life^4,14. COPD is often considered to be a disease of later years, but estimates suggest that 50% of those with COPD are now less than 65 years old, resulting in increases in absenteeism, premature retirement and reductions in workforce participation^5,6.

 

The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as “can,” “projected,” “to be,” “committed,” “continues,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for Ultibro Breezhaler, or regarding potential future revenues from any or all of the products in the Novartis COPD portfolio, including Ultibro Breezhaler. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

There can be no guarantee that Ultibro Breezhaler will be submitted or approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that any of the products in the Novartis COPD portfolio will receive additional regulatory approvals or be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management’s expectations regarding these products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company’s ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2013, the Group achieved net sales of USD 57.9 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 135,000 full-time-equivalent associates and sell products in more than 150 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

 

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1. Geßner C et al. Once-Daily QVA149 Demonstrates Superior Improvements in Lung Function Compared to Tiotropium plus Formoterol: The QUANTIFY Study. [ATS abstract # 50961; Thematic Poster Session D44; Date: May 21, 2014 Time: 8:15 AM-4:30 PM].

2. Korn S et al. Once-Daily QVA149 Improves Dyspnea, Quality of Life and Reduces the Rate of Exacerbations Compared to Tiotropium Plus Formoterol in COPD Patients: The QUANTIFY Study. [ATS abstract # 50965; Thematic Poster Session D44; Date: May 21, 2014 Time: 8:15 AM-4:30 PM].

3. Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). Global surveillance, prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases: a comprehensive approach. Available at: http://www.who.int/gard/publications/GARD_Manual/en/. [Accessed 13 May 2014].

4. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Updated 2014. http://www.goldcopd.org/uploads/users/files/GOLD_Report2014_Feb07.pdf. [Accessed 13 May 2014].

5. Fletcher MJ et al. COPD Uncovered: An International survey on the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on a working age population. BMC Public Health 2011;11:612.

6. daCosta M et al. The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among employed adults. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2012;7:211-219. Published online 2012 March 19. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S29280. [Accessed 13 May 2014].

7. Bryant et al. Improving medication adherence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review. Respiratory Research 2013;14:109. Available at: http://respiratory-research.com/content/pdf/1465-9921-14-109.pdf. [Accessed 13 May 2014].

8. Chrystyn H et al. Impact of patients’ satisfaction with their inhalers on treatment compliance and health status in COPD. Respir Med 2014;108(2):358-65.

9. 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. [Accessed 13 May 2014].

10. EMA. 2012. Ultibro Breezhaler EU Summary of Product Characteristics. [Online] 3 October 2013. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/002679/WC500151255.pdf [Accessed 13 May 2014].

11. Vogelmeier C et al. Once-daily QVA149 provides clinically meaningful improvements in lung function and clinical outcomes versus placebo, indacaterol, glycopyrronium, tiotropium and salmeterol/fluticasone in patients with COPD. [ATS abstract 40759; Session C45; Date: May 21, 2013 Time: 8:15 -10:45].

12. Vogelmeier C et al. Once-daily QVA149 provides clinically meaningful improvements in lung function and clinical outcomes. [ERS abstract 851178; Session 82; Date: September 8, 2013 Time: 12:50-14:40].

13. Banerji D et al. Dual bronchodilation with once-daily QVA149 improves dyspnea and health status and reduces symptoms and rescue medication use in patients with COPD: the IGNITE trials. [ERS abstract 851388; Session 346; Date: September 10 2013 Time: 8:30-10:30].

14. Joshi A et al. Symptom burden in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2012;18:97-103.

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