BRIEF—Novartis presents positive results from COPD switching study

Basel-based Novartis has announced positive results from the FLASH study comparing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who use Seretide (salmeterol/fluticasone) with those who switched to Ultibro Breezhaler (indacaterol/glycopyrronium).

The study met the primary endpoint, demonstrating that those who switched achieved significantly improved lung function.

The company says it’s the first randomized controlled trial to confirm the benefits of directly switching patients from the steroid-containing therapy to the dual bronchodilator.

Chief medical officer Shreeram Aradhye said: "This new research is important because it shows that this benefit also exists when directly switching patients from Seretide to Ultibro Breezhaler as would happen in everyday clinical practice.”

“The FLASH study provides further evidence that it is possible to reduce the burden of long-term inhaled steroids in many COPD patients, as recommended by global treatment guidelines".

The results were presented at the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR) Congress in Sydney, Australia.