The Novartis view on emerging drugs and novel targets for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating lung disease characterized by airflow limitation and chronic inflammation in the lungs. The mainstay of drug therapy for COPD is represented by long-acting bronchodilators, an important aspect of Novartis' development program. Novel once-daily dosing bronchodilators, such as the long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) glycopyrronium and the LAMA/long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) fixed-dose combination QVA149, have been shown to provide significant benefits to patients with COPD in terms of improvement in lung function, exercise tolerance, health-related quality of life, symptoms and reduction in the rate of exacerbations. Despite the benefits provided by these new treatment options, prevention of disease progression and control of exacerbations in certain patient phenotypes remain key challenges in the treatment of COPD. In order to address these needs and gain new insights into the complexity of COPD, Novartis is, in addition to bronchodilator-only therapies, developing LABA/inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) combinations to target inflammation, such as QMF149, as well as non-steroid based anti-inflammatory agents against key novel targets. These commitments are central to the Novartis' final goal of improving the standard of care in respiratory medicine and offering a better quality of life to patients with COPD.

• Authors: C Compton, D McBryan, E Bucchioni, F Patalano
• Journal: Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics (Pulm Pharmacol Ther) Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 562-73 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1522-9629 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23748050 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Bronchodilator Agents

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Bronchodilator Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Disease Progression
• Drug Design
• Drug Industry
• Exercise Tolerance
• Humans
• Inflammation (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Molecular Targeted Therapy
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Quality of Life