GSK, Innoviva get EC’s label update, once daily Relvar Ellipta as good as as twice-daily ICS/LABA for patients with asthma

The European Commission has approved a label update for the use of GlaxoSmithKline and Innoviva’s Relvar Ellipta, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) / long-acting β₂-agonist (LABA) combination, in patients whose asthma is already adequately controlled on both an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting β₂-agonist, the companies said Thursday.

According to the press from the companies, the Type II variation regulatory approval has been supported by data from a non-inferiority lung function study, which demonstrated that patients with adequately controlled asthma were able to switch to the once-daily FF/VI 100/25, from the twice-daily Seretide Accuhaler (fluticasone propionate /salmeterol, FP/SAL) 250/50, without compromising their lung function. No new safety signals were identified and the adverse event data were consistent with the known safety profile for FF/VI established in patients with asthma, the press release reads.

Jonathan Sweeting, SVP and Head of Global Respiratory Franchise GSK, said: “Patients with asthma can continue to experience symptoms despite being adequately controlled and these symptoms can impact their lives. This label update gives doctors the option of switching appropriate patients from their current ICS/LABA to once-daily Relvar Ellipta.”

Dr. Theodore J. Witek Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Innoviva, Inc., said: “The evidence supporting this regulatory update means doctors can be confident that patients taking once-daily Relvar Ellipta will experience comparable benefit in lung function and safety profile, as with a twice-daily ICS/LABA. We welcome this approval, which signifies an important milestone for Relvar Ellipta.“