Two boosts for Nycomed, as Daxas and Veregen gain treatment guideline backing

Independent Swiss drugmaker has received a couple of pieces of positive news for its products; first yesterday for its genital warts product Veregen (sinecatechins), followed this morning with the announcement that its Daxas (roflumilast) has been included as a new treatment option in the latest international chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guidelines.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has included Daxas as a new treatment option in its COPD management guidelines. A section on the new class, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, describes the efficacy of roflumilast in patients with COPD. “The Global Strategy for Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD” provides evidence-based guidelines for COPD management and is updated annually by a committee of leading COPD experts. In the latest edition, PDE4 inhibitors have been added as a new treatment class.

The guidelines acknowledge that the principal action of PDE4 inhibitors is to reduce inflammation and its clinical implications in COPD patients. It states: “In patients with Stage III: Severe COPD or Stage IV: Very Severe COPD and a history of exacerbations and chronic bronchitis, the phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, roflumilast, reduces exacerbations treated with oral glucocorticosteroids. These effects are also seen when roflumilast is added to long-acting bronchodilators.”