Further evidence of Ultibro Breezhaler efficacy showcased at ERS meeting

Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX) released date data from new analyses for once-daily Ultibro Breezhaler (investigational QVA149 - indacaterol 85mcg/glycopyrronium 43mcg delivered dose, equivalent to 110mcg/50 mcg metered dose per capsule), which showed significant improvements in lung function, shortness of breath and health-related quality of life for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients versus all comparators.

These data were part of 39 respiratory abstracts presented over the weekend at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Recently, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommending approval of the once-daily Ultibro Breezhaler, co-developed with UK inhaled therapies developer Vectura (LSE: VEC), as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with COPD (The Pharma Letter July 29). QVA149 was filed with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in November 2012. The US New Drug Application is expected to be filed at the end of 2014.

Provided superior, rapid and sustained improvement in lung function