Novartis has announced the results from the pivotal phase III GLOW2 study demonstrated that once-daily (QD) 50 mcg NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) was superior to placebo in improving lung function, symptom relief and quality of life, and reducing exacerbations over a one-year period. The data will be presented at the 2012 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference May 18-23, 2012 in San Francisco, California, USA.

“The GLOW2 results affirm the potential for once-daily NVA237 to help patients manage their COPD symptoms and improve their quality of life,” said Tim Wright, Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. “Novartis is committed to addressing the unmet needs of COPD patients by providing innovative medicines and devices, and the results of GLOW2 demonstrate that NVA237 could be the second innovative product in our COPD portfolio.”

GLOW2 met its primary endpoint by demonstrating NVA237 provided superior 24-hour bronchodilation compared to placebo at 12 weeks measured by mean trough FEV1 (97 mL; p<0.001). At this same time point, trough FEV1 for open-label (OL) tiotropium was 83 mL versus placebo (p<0.001). In addition, NVA237 showed similar efficacy to OL tiotropium (Spiriva HandiHaler*/18 mcg) in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). NVA237 also demonstrated rapid onset of action (within five minutes at first dose) and sustained 24-hour bronchodilation over 52 weeks.

At Day 1, Week 26 and Week 52 of the GLOW2 study, NVA237 showed significantly improved lung function (measured by mean trough FEV1) compared to placebo (all p<0.001) and results were similar to those seen with OL tiotropium. At Day 1 and Week 12, 26 and 52, the FEV1 area under the curve (AUC) for 0-4 hr, 0-12 hr, 12-24 hr, and 0-24 hr for NVA237 was superior to placebo (p<0.05) and numerically greater than OL tiotropium.

The study also demonstrated that NVA237 improved COPD symptoms and quality of life and reduced exacerbations compared to placebo. NVA237 significantly reduced breathlessness (measured by the transition dyspnea index or TDI, p=0.002), improved health-related quality of life (measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire or SGRQ, p<0.001), reduced use of rescue medication (p=0.039), and increased the percentage of days with no daytime symptoms (p<0.05)compared to placebo over 52 weeks.

For these symptomatic and quality of life indicators, results were numerically similar to those observed with OL tiotropium over the same time period. NVA237 also significantly prolonged the time to first exacerbation and significantly reduced the rate of moderate/severe exacerbations versus placebo over 52 weeks (p=0.001); these effects were similar to OL tiotropium (p=0.001).

Throughout the GLOW2 study, NVA237 was well-tolerated with a similar incidence of adverse events to placebo and OL tiotropium. Serious adverse events were reported less frequently with NVA237 (12.6%) than with either placebo (15.4%) or OL tiotropium (15.0%).

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 or placebo (double-blind), or once-daily OL tiotropium 18 mcg. They were also permitted to use COPD background therapy and rescue medication.

Results have recently been submitted for publication from the NVA237 phase II A2208 study. This study comparing once-daily and twice-daily dosing regimens of NVA237 met its primary endpoint by demonstrating that all treatments (12.5 mcg, 25 mcg and 50 mcg given once or twice daily and 100 mcg once daily) provided statistically significant bronchodilation over the course of the day (measured by mean trough FEV1 at Day 28) in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD compared to placebo.

Differences in lung function (measured by FEV1 AUC0-24h)between a single daily dose of NVA237 and the same total amount given twice daily were small and not clinically relevant. However once-daily dosing is known to offer the potential to improve patient adherence, an important consideration when selecting the optimum dosing regimen for a novel bronchodilator. Throughout the study, NVA237 showed an overall good safety profile and was well tolerated compared to placebo. The results of A2208 are consistent with previous NVA237 studies and support once-daily dosing of 50 mcg NVA237 in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.

Seebri Breezhaler (glycopyrronium bromide/NVA237) is an investigational long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) developed as a once-daily inhaled maintenance therapy for the treatment of COPD. NVA237is expected to be one of three innovative medicines in the Novartis COPD portfolio to be delivered using the Breezhaler Single Dose Dry Powder Inhaler, along with Onbrez Breezhaler (indacaterol) and investigational QVA149 (indacaterol 110 mcg/glycopyrronium bromide 50 mcg).

Phase III data from the GLOW 1, 2 and 3 studies demonstrated that NVA237 increased patients' lung function over a 24-hour period compared to placebo, with a fast onset of action at first dose, as well as improving exercise endurance. Glycopyrronium bromide was licensed to Novartis in April 2005 by Vectura and its co-development partner Sosei. It was submitted for regulatory approval in Europe in Q3 2011 and Japan in Q4 2011, and expected US filing is the beginning of 2014.

Novartis is committed to addressing the unmet medical needs of COPD patients and improving their quality of life by providing innovative medicines and devices.

Onbrez Breezhaler (indacaterol maleate) is the only COPD treatment to offer clinically relevant 24-hour bronchodilation combined with a rapid onset of action at first dose and has shown significant symptomatic improvement especially on breathlessness. In March 2012, Novartis launched the 75 mcg once-daily dose in the US under the brand name Arcapta Neohaler. It is also available as a 150 mcg once-daily dose in Japan under the brand name Onbrez Inhalation Capsules.

The first four Novartis QVA149 phase III studies in the treatment of COPD all met their primary endpoints. The results of the SHINE, BRIGHT, ENLIGHTEN and ILLUMINATE studies, which are key components of the IGNITE program, demonstrate the potential of QVA149 in the treatment of COPD.

COPD is a progressive disease associated mainly with tobacco smoking, air pollution or occupational exposure, which can cause obstruction of airflow in the lungs resulting in debilitating bouts of breathlessness. It affects an estimated 210 million people worldwide and is predicted to be the third leading cause of death by 2020.