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Almirall’s COPD drug launched in Europe

pharmafile | September 20, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing Advair, Almirall, Eklira, Genuair, Seretide, Spiriva 

Almirall has launched COPD treatment Eklira in Denmark following approval from the European Commission.

Phase III trials demonstrated that Eklira (aclidinium) provides significant and sustained bronchodilation and symptom control from its first dose, where its benefits become evident within half an hour.

It also reduced moderate and severe exacerbations by around a third, performed better than placebo and improved known COPD symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, exacerbations and chest tightness.

“The launch of Eklira/Genuair in Denmark is the first step in the European roll out of this new therapeutic option for COPD. We also expect to make this medicine available to patients in the UK and Germany soon”, said Eduardo Sanchiz, chief executive at Almirall.

Regulators have already approved the drug in the US where it is marketed by Forest Laboratories under the brand name Tudorza/Pressair.

The World Health Organisation estimates 210 million people suffer with the condition worldwide. Encompassing chronic bronchitis and emphysema, COPD is usually caused by smoking and is predicted to be the third leading cause of death anywhere by 2020.

Almirall are launching Eklira into a competitive big pharma marketplace led by two blockbusters – Boehringer and Pfizer’s Spiriva and GSK’s Seretide/Advair.

The patent will soon expire for the latter, but GSK and partners Theravance have the promising Relovair waiting in the wings, which has just been submitted to US and European regulators.

Brett Wells

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