GSK's (NYSE: GSK) phase III study evaluating its blockbuster drug Nucala (mepolizumab), an anti-IL5 biologic, for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), met its primary endpoint.

Data from the MATINEE study showed that in patients treated for up to 2 years, the addition of Nucala to inhaled maintenance therapy led to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the annualized rate of moderate/severe exacerbations versus placebo, thereby meeting the study's primary endpoint.

COPD is a respiratory condition that affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Around 40% of COPD patients exhibit type II inflammation, which is associated with an increased risk of exacerbations, which are episodes of worsening respiratory symptoms. IL-5 is a core cytokine in type II inflammation. It promotes the growth and ...