NICE approves injectable COPD treatment that can reduce flare-ups by 30%
NICE has approved a new targeted treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which could ‘transform the lives’ of almost 30,000 people with the breathing condition in England.
Dupilumab comes in pre-filled pens that patients take home and inject every two weeks. It is the first biologic that targets both the symptoms of COPD and an underlying cause of the disease.
The recommended dose of dupilumab for adult patients is an initial dose of 600 mg (two 300 mg injections), followed by 300 mg given every other week administered as subcutaneous injection.
In clinical trials, the drug reduced COPD flare-ups by around 30%. Participants also reported significant improvements in lung function and were able to breathe more easily.
NICE director of medicines evaluation, Helen Knight, said: ‘This recommendation is a significant milestone for people with COPD. It offers patients and effective, targeted therapy that has shown impressive results.
‘For people whose COPD remains uncontrolled despite existing treatments, dupilumab could offers genuine hope for a better quality of life. Recommending this medicine demonstrates NICE is continuing to get the best care to patients while ensuring value for the taxpayer.’
COPD causes around 130,00 emergency NHS hospital admissions each year in England and flare-ups often require steroid treatments that can have serious side effectives. Dupilumab could ease pressure on hospitals and reduce the need for steroid prescriptions.
If half the eligible population receive this new treatment, there could be around 3,600 fewer COPD attacks, saving the health service and estimated £16.5m, said NICE.
COPD is a chronic, progressive lung condition that causes a person’s airways to become obstructed, making it hard to breathe. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough and chest tightness.
It is characterised by episodic flare-ups known as exacerbations and the more severe forms of the disease are a major risk factor for developing heart failure.
There are an estimated 1.2 million people with a COPD diagnosis in the UK.
Dupilumab is recommended for adults with uncontrolled COPD who have raised blood eosinophil levels and have experienced at least one severe flare-up, or two or more moderate flare-ups, in the previous 12 months, despite being on maximum inhaler therapy.
A patient expert at the first evaluation committee meeting explained that biological treatments for COPD had ‘completely changed his life’.
Another patient expert explained that COPD is extremely distressing for patients and the people they live with. People with COPD often have to give up working entirely or reduce working hours due to their condition, she added.
Chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, Sarah Sleet, said: ‘Today’s announcement will bring hope to many who have not been able to access treatment that could transform their lives. Now we need to improve wider COPD care and, subject to final guidance, ensure that everyone who could be helped by dupilumab is able to access it.’
NHS England has negotiated an innovative commercial deal with French pharmaceutical company, Sanofi enabling the rollout of the treatment dupilumab.
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