Novartis unveils promising phase II asthma data

The collective data from phase II studies, presented at the centenary meeting of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), show indacaterol (QAB149) provides bronchodilation for up to 24 hours, with convenient once-daily dosing.

A study involving 156 patients aged 13-75 also demonstrated that indacaterol was shown to have a favorable cardiovascular safety profile, with no clinically significant effect on ECG measurements, vital signs or laboratory tests commonly affected by long-duration beta2-agonists.

“Despite advances in the management of these chronic conditions, the numbers of individuals affected by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are large and growing,” said Dr James Donohue, professor of medicine, chief, division of pulmonary critical care, University of North Carolina School of Medicine. “These data show indacaterol has significant therapeutic potential, including single-dose 24-hour control, for asthma and COPD patients.”