GSK’s Nucala shows promise in COPD ahead of US decision

UK pharma major GSK (LSE: GSK) has published results from its Phase III MATINEE trial evaluating Nucala (mepolizumab) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as it awaits a US decision on whether the drug can be approved for this use.

The data, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that Nucala cut the annual rate of moderate or severe flare-ups by 21% compared to placebo. For patients identified with chronic bronchitis, the figure rose to 31%. The study followed patients for up to two years.

GSK said the results underscore the potential of Nucala in a difficult-to-treat population and highlighted a 35% drop in exacerbations that resulted in emergency department visits or hospital stays — a secondary finding from the trial that was statistically significant but described as “nominal” due to how the data was analyzed.