GlaxoSmithKline receives CHMP boost for new COPD medicine

GlaxoSmithKline's umeclidinium treatment has been issued with a positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

The company hopes the medicine can be developed under the brand name Incruse and used as a once-daily maintenance treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Patrick Vallance, GlaxoSmithKline's president of pharmaceuticals R&D, said the company is committed to respiratory medicines that will enable doctors to make treatment choices based on their individual patients' needs. 

"The CHMP's decision brings us a step closer to offering physicians a further once-daily treatment choice for appropriate COPD patients," he added.

Umeclidinium has been developed as a long-acting muscarinic antagonist with a proposed strength of 55mcg inhalation powder, which is contained in the Ellipta inhaler.

A CHMP positive opinion is one of last steps before marketing authorisation and a final decision on Incruse by the European Commission is anticipated during the second quarter of 2014.