GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Theravance, Inc. announced the results of two pivotal 6-month efficacy and safety phase III studies of Relovair for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Results of both studies support the continuation of the Relovair development programme in the COPD patient population.

Relovair is a once-daily Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS)/Long-Acting Beta-Agonist (LABA) combination treatment, comprising fluticasone furoate and vilanterol (FF/VI), currently under development for the treatment of COPD and asthma. These data form part of the overall evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the Relovair combination in COPD that, together with data from ongoing 12-month exacerbation studies, will be included in regulatory submissions around the world.

For pre-specified co-primary endpoints analyses, both studies show statistically significant improvements for Relovair compared with placebo on 0-4 hour weighted mean FEV1 and trough FEV1. For the same endpoints, the studies also demonstrate statistically significant improvements for VI compared to placebo.

In order to assess the contribution of VI to the performance of the combination, a further co-primary endpoint compared Relovair to FF on weighted mean FEV1; again this was statistically significant. In order to assess the contribution of FF to the performance of the combination, Relovair was compared to VI on trough FEV1. For this analysis, Relovair demonstrated numerical improvements but not consistent statistical significance compared with VI alone.

In both studies the most common adverse events across all treatment arms, including placebo, were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection and headache. There were no clinically relevant effects seen in laboratory measures or vital signs.

Darrell Baker, SVP, Respiratory Portfolio Optimisation Leader at GSK said: “Successful completion of these two studies is an important milestone in the development of Relovair for COPD. These data will be reviewed together with the larger 12 month exacerbation studies still underway, to develop a complete evaluation of Relovair in treating patients with COPD.”

These two six month FEV1 studies provide an initial insight into the pivotal programme for Relovair which is evaluating over 6,000 patients with COPD. Two larger 12-month exacerbation studies in over 3,000 patients are now fully recruited. The results of these additional studies will provide a fuller evaluation of the efficacy of Relovair compared with VI and FF on reduction of exacerbations and improvement in lung function. The full results of all the studies will be presented at future scientific meetings.

Relovair is also in phase III clinical development for the treatment of asthma.

The two studies were placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group studies and randomised a total of approximately 2,200 patients with moderate to severe COPD. Patients (approximately n=200 per arm per study) received either FF alone (100mcg, 200mcg), VI alone (25mcg), a combination of FF and Vl (50mcg, 100mcg, or 200mcg FF plus Vl 25mcg) or placebo.

The studies evaluated two separate measures of lung function: improvements in lung function over the first four hours post dose on day 168 and the end of dose trough lung function on day 169. Relovair is a trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

GlaxoSmithKline is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

Theravance is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule medicines across a number of therapeutic areas including respiratory disease, bacterial infections, and Central Nervous System (CNS)/pain.