IQWiG finds added benefit for Eklira in some patients

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now re-examined the added benefit of aclidinium bromide (trade names Eklira, Bretaris) under the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG).

The drug has been approved since July 2012 and is used to relieve the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. It was developed by Spain’s largest drugmaker Almirall (ALM: MC), which has since transferred the rights to its respiratory franchise to Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN; The Pharma Letter July 30, 2014).

In contrast to the first dossier assessment from 2012, the IQWiG now sees proof of considerable added benefit on the basis of newly submitted data. This only applies to one patient group, however, namely adults with COPD grade III and fewer than two exacerbations (flare-ups) per year. These patients have fewer flare-ups under aclidinium bromide.