Dupixent® (dupilumab) Recommended for EU Approval by the CHMP to Treat Patients with COPD

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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Recommendation for adults with uncontrolled COPD with raised blood eosinophils based on data from two landmark Phase 3 trials demonstrating Dupixent significantly reduced exacerbations and improved lung function

If approved, Dupixent would be the first-ever targeted therapy for COPD in the EU and the first new treatment approach for this disease in more than a decade

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and PARIS, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi today announced that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion recommending the approval of Dupixent® (dupilumab) in the European Union (EU) as an add-on maintenance treatment in adults with uncontrolled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by raised blood eosinophils. The European Commission is expected to announce a final decision on the Dupixent application in the coming months.

COPD is a respiratory disease that damages the lungs and causes progressive lung function decline, and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Symptoms include persistent cough, excessive mucus production and shortness of breath that may impair the ability to perform routine daily activities, which may lead to sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression. COPD is also associated with a significant health and economic burden due to recurrent acute exacerbations that require systemic corticosteroid treatment and/or lead to hospitalization. Smoking and exposure to noxious particles are key risk factors for COPD, but even individuals who quit smoking can still develop or continue having the disease. There have been no new treatment approaches approved for more than a decade.

The positive CHMP opinion is supported by data from the landmark BOREAS and NOTUS Phase 3 trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of Dupixent in adults with uncontrolled COPD with evidence of type 2 inflammation (i.e., blood eosinophils ≥300 cells per μL). All patients were on background maximal standard-of-care inhaled therapy (nearly all on triple therapy). The primary endpoint was met in both trials, showing Dupixent significantly reduced annualized moderate or severe acute COPD exacerbations by up to 34% compared to placebo. Dupixent rapidly and significantly improved lung function compared to placebo, with improvements sustained at 52 weeks. Additionally, Dupixent improved health-related quality of life at 52 weeks (statistically significant in BOREAS and nominally significant in NOTUS) as assessed by the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).