British pharmaceuticals giant GSK PLC (LSE:GSK, NYSE:GSK) has presented late-breaking data at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress, highlighting a 54% reduction in severe asthma exacerbations in patients treated with depemokimab.
The findings are based on the Phase III AReS study, which focused on patients with eosinophilic asthma.
Depemokimab, an IL-5 inhibitor developed by GSK, is administered twice yearly.
The treatment aims to improve patient outcomes while reducing the number of injections.
According to the company, depemokimab “delivered a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in exacerbations over 52 weeks versus placebo plus standard of care.
Kaivan Khavandi, AGK’s global head of respiratory/immunology R&D, said: “With a dosing schedule of just two injections per year, depemokimab has the potential to be the first approved ultra-long-acting biologic with six-month dosing.
“This could offer physicians and millions of patients with severe asthma an option that provides reassurance of sustained suppression of a key marker of type 2 inflammation and a reduction in the rate of exacerbations and hospitalisation – the fundamental treatment goal in asthma.”
GSK shares moved 0.5% higher in late Monday exchanges.