GSK hails positive results of Nucala clinical trials in lung disease

GSK PLC on Friday announced positive headline results of the Matinee phase III clinical trial evaluating Nucala.

The London-based biopharma company has been researching the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody Nucala, whose generic name is mepolizumab, in treating adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Results concluded that the trial met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in annualised rate of moderate and severe exacerbations versus placebo with patients treated for up to two years.

COPD affects over 300 million people globally with up to 40% of patients exhibiting inflammation characterised by raised blood eosinophil that cause exacerbations.

Such exacerbations risk hospitalisation and can lead to lung damage as well as progressive lung function decline.

Mepolizumab, sold under the brand name Nucala by GlaxoSmithKline, is a humanized monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). It recognizes and blocks interleukin-5 (IL-5), a signalling protein of the immune system.

Patients suffering from COPD can fall into "a vicious cycle of deterioration in overall physical health", resulting in a worsening of symptoms and quality of life, and increased mortality. "The preliminary safety results are consistent with the known safety profile of Nucala. Further analysis of these data is ongoing," GSK commented.

GSK shares were up 0.2% at 1,642.76 each in London on Friday morning.