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LONDON (Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC's Novel Start trial for its Symbicort Turbuhaler demonstrated a reduction in the rate of asthma attacks in patients with mild asthma compared to common therapies.
The 52-week open-label trial of 668 patients found a 51% reduction in the rate of asthma exacerbations per year versus albuterol. The trial also found no difference between Symbicort Turbuhaler when compared to budesonide plus albuterol in terms of exacerbation rate, "despite a 52% reduction in the mean steroid use with Symbicort Turbuhaler".
Data from Novel Start supports Astra's previous Sygma 1 and Sygma 2 trials, which were published in May 2018.
Alex de Giorgio-Miller, therapy area vice president of Respiratory, Global Medical Affairs said: "The Novel Start trial demonstrates the effectiveness of Symbicort as an anti-inflammatory reliever to reduce the risk of asthma attacks in patients with mild disease, compared with the most commonly used asthma reliever. In a trial that reflects real-world practice, these data reinforce evidence from the Sygma trials and build on the established clinical profile of Symbicort in moderate-to-severe disease."
Symbicort Turbuhaler has been approved as a maintenance and reliever therapy, as well as an anti-inflammatory reliever, in Brazil and Russia. A submission to expand the indication for the drug as an anti-inflammatory reliever for mild asthma has been accepted in Europe. In the US, Symbicourt is approved but not in the Turbuhaler device.
Shares in AstraZeneca were up 0.2% at 5,885.00 pence on Monday morning.
