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news.GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has launched a new once-daily bronchodilator treatment, Incruse Ellipta (umeclidinium) in the UK, to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Incruse is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), a type of bronchodilator which can relax airway muscles and improve airflow in and out of the lungs.
Umeclidinium is the third COPD treatment introduced by GSK UK in 2014 and is designed to be delivered using the Ellipta inhaler.
In combination with Relvar Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/vilanterol), it is the first and only triple therapy option for COPD in the same type of inhaler.
GSK UK vice-president Dr Stephen McDonough said: "Incruse Ellipta is the latest addition to GSK’s COPD portfolio.
"COPD is a debilitating condition affecting 900,000 people in the UK. Adding a LAMA to our portfolio in the Ellipta inhaler will allow clinicians to tailor treatments to patients’ needs whilst reducing the need for patients to change to different types of inhaler."
Guidelines from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend offering a LAMA in addition to an ICS/LABA as triple therapy to COPD patients who remain breathless or have exacerbations despite taking ICS/LABA alone.
Safety profile of umeclidinium has been assessed in 1,663 patients with COPD, who received doses of 55mcg or greater for up to one year.