18th Mar 2021 10:28
(Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC on Thursday announced it has started the first phase three study in the SWIFT-2 trial of a long-acting anti-IL-5 treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma.
The Brentford, England-based pharmaceutical company said phase three will involve 2,450 patients and will assess the efficacy and safety of the GSK'294 treatment, which progressed from phase one to phase three studies in three and a half years.
GSK said GSK'294 is an investigational medicine with the potential to be the first treatment to deliver long-acting suppression of IL-5 in asthmatic patients from one injection every six months.
"Around 10% of all asthma patients suffer from the avoidable symptoms of severe eosinophilic asthma and only one in four patients who are eligible for a biologic therapy currently receive one. These patients might benefit from more targeted therapies to better control their condition. We believe GSK'294 could provide another option to these patients that build on the positive impact seen with current anti-IL5 treatments and may also offer the advantage of one subcutaneous injection every six months," said Senior Vice President of Development Christopher Corsico.
Shares in GlaxoSmithKline were up 0.6% at 1,295.00 pence in London on Thursday.
By Zoe Wickens; [email protected]
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