Genetic Discovery Suggests Arthritis Drug May Help Some Asthma Sufferers – ABC News


AsiaOne

Genetic Discovery Suggests Arthritis Drug May Help Some Asthma Sufferers
ABC News
New research into the genetics behind asthma risk suggests a potential new treatment for the debilitating disorder could be a drug also used for rheumatoid arthritis. Scientists led by Manuel Ferreira of the Queensland
Mutant genes found for asthma, point to possible therapyReuters
Two DNA regions reveal asthma propensityScience Network Western Australia
Asthma genetics discovery made in QueenslandMy Sunshine Coast (press release)
TVNZ
all 26 news articles »

View full post on asthma – Google News

Better Drug Information for Teenagers Needed – Heal Blog (blog)


Heal Blog (blog)

Better Drug Information for Teenagers Needed
Heal Blog (blog)
Apart from the headache drugs, they also take other medications for stomach aches, nervousness, asthma, sleeping disorders and pregnancy prevention. Furthermore, Bahri says that most of these teenagers take medicines appropriately,
Many teens unaware of meds risksIrish Health
Pharmacists need to provide better information to teenagers on risks and EurekAlert (press release)

all 8 news articles »

View full post on asthma – Google News

‘Report Predicts Asthma and COPD Drug Revenues Will Reach $43.8BN in 2015 … – PR Newswire UK (press release)

'Report Predicts Asthma and COPD Drug Revenues Will Reach $43.8BN in 2015
PR Newswire UK (press release)
A new report by visiongain, a London-based business information company, predicts that world asthma and COPD drug revenues will reach $43.8bnin 2015. That market generated $32.1bn in 2010, according to Asthma and COPD Therapies: World Market 2011-2021,

and more »

View full post on asthma – Google News

‘Report Predicts Asthma And COPD Drug Revenues Will Reach $43.8BN In 2015 … – Science 2.0 (press release)

'Report Predicts Asthma And COPD Drug Revenues Will Reach $43.8BN In 2015
Science 2.0 (press release)
A new report by visiongain, a London-based business information company, predicts that world asthma and COPD drug revenues will reach $43.8bnin 2015. That market generated $32.1bn in 2010, according to Asthma and COPD Therapies: World Market 2011-2021,

and more »

View full post on asthma – Google News

Experimental Drug Promising Against Tough-to-Treat Asthma – U.S. News & World Report

Experimental Drug Promising Against Tough-to-Treat Asthma
U.S. News & World Report
3 (HealthDay News) — A new experimental drug for adults with asthma seems to improve lung function in patients who haven't been helped with standard steroids. The drug, lebrikizumab, targets a specific receptor involved in asthma, and appears to be
Lebrikizumab Ups Lung Function in Adults With AsthmaDoctors Lounge
Lebrikizumab Improves Lung Function in AsthmaMedscape
Roche asthma drug shows promise in mid-stage trialReuters
Fox Business –MedPage Today –InPharm
all 23 news articles »

View full post on asthma – Google News

Roche Asthma Drug Phase II trial Meets Primary Endpoint

Roche’s investigational treatment for asthma met its primary endpoint in a phase II study

Lebrikizumab has potential to be the first personalized treatment for asthma

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that a phase II study of its investigational treatment lebrikizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to block interleukin-13 (IL-13) cytokine, met its primary endpoint. In the study, lebrikizumab treatment resulted in a statistically significant increase in FEV1 (measure of lung function) in adults with asthma whose symptoms were inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteriods (ICS). The overall frequency of adverse events was similar in both the placebo and the treatment group. The results of this study, known as ‘MILLY’, are being published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) today.

IL-13 is a key contributor to the features of asthma and increases periostin, a protein which can be measured with a blood test. In the study, patients with high pre-treatment periostin levels had greater improvement in lung function with lebrikizumab compared to patients with low periostin levels.

“The findings of the MILLY study, and the development of a potential biomarker, have shown that we may be able to select appropriate asthma patients for lebrikizumab therapy,” said Richard Scheller, Executive Vice President, Genentech Research and Early Development (gRED). “These results support further investigation of lebrikizumab as a personalized medicine for patients who suffer from moderate to severe uncontrolled asthma.”

The study also showed a trend towards a lower rate of severe asthma attacks (known as exacerbations) in patients treated with lebrikizumab, although the study was not powered to detect a reduction of these. These data are encouraging as severe asthma attacks, characterized by shortness of breath and chest tightness, are potentially life threatening.

Lebrikizumab may benefit patients with a high unmet medical need who have uncontrolled asthma with existing treatment options.
About lebrikizumab

Lebrikizumab, which was developed by Genentech Research and Early Development, is a treatment being investigated for patients with uncontrolled asthma. It is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to block the IL-13 cytokine (proteins that serve as messengers between cells) and reduce inflammation in the lung. IL-13 overexpression results in airway inflammation which is a feature of asthma.
About the Phase II study (MILLY)

The MILLY trial (a global phase II randoMized, double blInd, placebo-controLled study to evaLuate the safetY, tolerability and efficacy of lebrikizumab in adult patients with asthma who are inadequately controlled on inhaled corticosteroids) is a Roche/Genentech sponsored study to evaluate the safety profile, tolerability and efficacy of lebrikizumab in adult patients whose asthma is inadequately controlled on inhaled corticosteroids, a common treatment for asthma. Lebrikizumab was dosed every 28 days subcutaneously at 250mg, for a total of six doses. A total of 219 patients were randomized, one patient was not treated. 106 patients were randomized to lebrikizumab and 112 patients were randomized to placebo.

The primary endpoint of the study was a measure of lung function called the ‘pre-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume 1 (FEV1)’. FEV1 is the volume of air that can be forced out in one second after taking a deep breath.

The primary endpoint of the trial showed that at week 12, lebrikizumab-treated patients had a 5.5% (95% CI, 0.8% to 10.2%; P=0.02) greater increase in pre-bronchodilator FEV1, from baseline than placebo-treated patients (lebrikizumab, 9.8%±1.9%; placebo, 4.3%±1.5%). Lebrikizumab-treated patients in the high-periostin subgroup experienced an 8.2% (P=0.03) relative increase from baseline FEV1, compared with placebo. Lebrikizumab treated patients in the low-periostin subgroup experienced a 1.6% (P=0.61) relative increase in FEV1, compared with placebo. Periostin was measured in serum using a protein assay.

Secondary pre-specified outcomes included the rates of protocol-defined exacerbations and severe exacerbations (worsening of asthma) through week 24. Although the study was not powered to detect a reduction of exacerbations, there was a trend towards a lower rate of severe exacerbation in patients treated with lebrikizumab.

The overall frequency of adverse events was similar in both the placebo and the treatment groups. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed in 4 lebrikizumab treated patients; 2 events of patients experiencing an asthma attack, community acquired pneumonia and traumatic pneumothorax (a collection of air inside the chest, between the lung and inner chest wall, which causes the lung to collapse) related to a car accident.

The most common side effects were infections (lebrikizumab 48.1%, placebo 49.1%), which included upper respiratory infections (lebrikizumab 12.3%, placebo 14.3%) and sinus infections (lebrikizumab 9.4%, placebo 8.0%). The overall frequency of adverse events was similar in both treatment groups (lebrikizumab, 74.5%; placebo, 78.6%), as were the frequencies of serious adverse events (lebrikizumab, 3.8%; placebo, 5.4%). Musculoskeletal events were more common with lebrikizumab (lebrikizumab, 13.2%; placebo, 5.4%). Twenty-five patients (11.5%) discontinued the study early, including 12 placebo and 13 lebrikizumab-treated patients.
About asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing difficult and is a major public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide.1 A feature of asthma is inflammation of the air passages resulting in a variable airflow to the lungs. This results in recurrent attacks of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness thus requiring continuous medical care. Therapies such as inhaled corticosteroids are intended to ease airway inflammation and airway narrowing. Despite treatment with inhaled glucocorticosteroids (ICS), many patients continue to have uncontrolled asthma that requires the use of more intensive therapy. 2
About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche’s personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2010, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested over 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 47.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.

View full post on asthma – Google News

Sandoz Negotiates Expanded RoW Rights to Vectura’s Asthma/COPD Drug VR315 – Genetic Engineering News


Stockopedia

Sandoz Negotiates Expanded RoW Rights to Vectura's Asthma/COPD Drug VR315
Genetic Engineering News
The Novartis generics business, Sandoz, negotiated expanded, rest-of-world (excluding the US) rights to Vectura's VR315 candidate combination therapy for asthma/COPD. Sandoz already holds European rights to the dry powder inhaler product.
Vectura Extends Novartis Deal For VR315 Lung DrugFox Business
VECTURA GROUP PLC : VR315 RoW License Agreement4-traders (press release)
Vectura signs up Sandoz for asthma drug in RoW; good results for ALK Abello The Pharma Letter
Stockopedia
all 9 news articles »

View full post on asthma – Google News