Sosei’s QVA149 Phase III study on COPD meets primary endpoint

Sosei Group Corporation ("Sosei"; TSE Mothers Index: 4565) confirms the information released today by Novartis that results from the fifth QVA149 (indacaterol maleate / glycopyrronium bromide) Phase III study, SPARK, met its primary endpoint of a reduced rate of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations compared to glycopyrronium bromide (Seebri^® Breezhaler^®). SPARK is the final study intended for initial regulatory filings of QVA149 in Europe and Japan, which are expected in Q4 2012. US filing of QVA149 is expected at the end of 2014. To date, the first five studies of the IGNITE QVA149 Phase III clinical trials program have all met their primary endpoints of efficacy, safety, exercise endurance, and reduction of exacerbations.

SPARK met its primary endpoint by demonstrating that patients treated with once-daily (QD) investigational QVA149 for 64 weeks demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant lower rate of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations compared to patients treated with QD glycopyrronium 50 mcg (p=0.038). The study also showed that the rate of moderate-to-severe exacerbations was numerically lower (p=0.096) in patients on QVA149 compared to open-label (OL) tiotropium 18 mcg.

A further analysis of the data demonstrated that QVA149 was statistically significantly more effective in reducing the overall rate of all exacerbations (mild, moderate and severe) compared to glycopyrronium 50 mcg (p=0.001) and OL tiotropium 18 mcg (p=0.002). The adverse event (AE) profile of QVA149 was similar to both glycopyrronium 50 mcg and OL tiotropium 18 mcg.

The management of COPD exacerbations is important to both patients and physicians, as exacerbations can impose a significant burden of morbidity, mortality, reduced quality of life and healthcare costs. Frequent exacerbations are linked to an accelerated decline in lung function and patients are also known to have a poorer quality of life. Admissions to hospital due to exacerbations are increasing and patients with more severe underlying disease account for around 70% of the direct medical costs of COPD.

SPARK was a 64-week, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active controlled study designed to evaluate the effect of QVA149 (indacaterol maleate 110 mcg / glycopyrronium 50 mcg) QD versus glycopyrronium 50 mcg and QD OL tiotropium 18 mcg on moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations in 2,224 patients with severe to very severe COPD.

QVA149 is an investigational inhaled, once-daily, fixed-dose combination of the long-acting beta₂-adrenergicagonist (LABA) indacaterol maleate, and the investigational long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) glycopyrronium bromide, being investigated for the treatment of COPD in the Phase III IGNITE clinical trial program. IGNITE is one of the largest international clinical trial programs in COPD comprising 10 studies in total with more than 7,000 patients across 42 countries. The first five studies (ILLUMINATE, SHINE, BRIGHT, ENLIGHTEN, SPARK) have already completed in 2012 with three additional studies (BLAZE, ARISE, BEACON) expected to complete by the end of the year. The studies are designed to investigate efficacy, safety and tolerability, exercise endurance, exacerbations, breathlessness and quality of life.

CEO of Sosei, Shinichi Tamura commented:

"The SPARK study demonstrated a meaningful reduction in exacerbations in COPD patients; something that is of major benefit for patients and doctors and eases the burden of healthcare costs. We look forward to more detailed data from both glycopyrronium bromide (NVA237) and QVA149 at the upcoming European Respiratory Society meeting in Vienna in early September with the first filings for QVA149 expected in Europe and Japan by the end of this year."