According to the study results, once daily use of NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) 50mcg showed improvement in lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as compared to placebo.
When compared to another muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), tiotropium (Spiriva HandiHaler) 18mcg, NVA237 demonstrated similar improvements in lung function in COPD patients to tiotropium.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Development global head Trevor Mundel said NVA237 has demonstrated its potential benefit for COPD patients in two large pivotal Phase III studies.
"This new study adds to the growing evidence that NVA237 could be an important treatment option for COPD, and supports our plans to develop a fixed-dose combination with our long-acting beta2-agonist Onbrez Breezhaler (indacaterol)," Mundel said.