Teva asthma treatment scores NICE approval

pharmafile | July 20, 2017 | News story | Sales and Marketing |  Teva, asthma, biotech, cinqaero, drugs, healthcare, pharma, pharmaceuticals 

NICE has reached a decision in its final appraisal determination of Teva’s Cinqaero (reslizumab), recommending the drug’s use as an add-on treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma inadequately controlled despite high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus another medicinal product for maintenance treatment.

Cinqaero is a humanised interleukin-5 (IL-5) antagonist monoclonal antibody which functions by binding to IL-5 – the most selective eosinophil-active cytokine and known to exacerbate asthma symptoms – in order to prevent it from binding to a receptor and improve eosinophilic inflammation.   

“Reslizumab has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life for some people living with severe asthma, and we are delighted that it has been recommended for use on the NHS,” explained Kay Boycott, Chief Executive of Asthma UK. “New monoclonal antibody treatments, which have shown success in clinical trials are likely to be effective in treating around 30-40% of those living with severe asthma, so it is imperative that they are made available. While today’s news is an encouraging step forward, it’s important to note that these treatments will only benefit a certain group of people. There remain many thousands more for whom no effective treatments are available. More research is needed so that in the future all people with severe asthma will have an effective treatment option.”

The treatment was previously approved in the EU by the European Commission in August last year for the same indication.

Sven Dethlefs, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Respiratory Medicines at Teva, commented: “Teva is very pleased to receive this decision by NICE as we seek to expand the availability of reslizumab globally in an effort to ensure that patients living with severe, uncontrolled asthma have access to this treatment option. The future of respiratory care shows great promise, and we are proud to be at the forefront of providing innovative medications for such a patient population whose quality of life is often severely impacted by asthma.”

Matt Fellows