FDA Approves Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Boehringer Ingelheim's STIOLTO RESPIMAT for COPD Health-Related Quality of Life

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Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Mar 29, 2016, 08:00 ET

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a sNDA for STIOLTO RESPIMAT that adds data showing improvement in health-related quality of life among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to the product labelling.

These data, which are from the OTEMTO® 1&2 clinical studies, show a clinically meaningful improvement in health-related quality of life, as measured by the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), which is a disease-specific patient-reported instrument that evaluates symptoms, activities, and the impact of the disease on daily life.

"I see first-hand how symptoms that COPD patients experience negatively impact their daily lives," said Richard Casaburi, MD, PhD, professor and associate chief, Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Physiology and Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. "For people living with COPD, a treatment that helps improve their lung function and symptoms, can positively impact their health-related quality of life and their everyday activity level."

"The health-related quality of life data builds upon the already existing clinical evidence establishing STIOLTO RESPIMAT as a proven treatment option for people living with COPD," said Sabine Luik, MD, senior vice president, Medicine & Regulatory Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "This sNDA approval adds to the rich heritage of Boehringer Ingelheim as a respiratory industry leader. It is also the latest evidence of our over 40-year commitment to the COPD community."

Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists, such as olodaterol, one of the active ingredients in STIOLTO RESPIMAT, increase the risk of asthma-related death. STIOLTO RESPIMAT is not indicated for asthma and should not be initiated in acutely deteriorating COPD patients or for the relief of acute symptoms. STIOLTO RESPIMAT is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to tiotropium, ipratropium, olodaterol, or any component of this product. As with other inhaled medicines, STIOLTO RESPIMAT may cause paradoxical bronchospasm that may be life-threatening. The most common adverse reactions were nasopharyngitis, cough and back pain.

Please see complete Important Safety Information below.

STIOLTO RESPIMAT (www.STIOLTO.com) was approved in May 2015 for the long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. STIOLTO RESPIMAT is not indicated to treat asthma or acute deterioration of COPD.

Favorable access to STIOLTO RESPIMAT continues to expand and it is widely covered with Commercial and Medicare insurance plans, including Optum, Humana, Aetna and CIGNA. Medicare coverage of STIOLTO RESPIMAT, in particular, has significantly exceeded expectations.

The label expansion is based on data from two sets of Phase III trials—OTEMTO® 1&2 (NCT01964352/NCT02006732) and TONADO® 1&2 (NCT01431274/NCT01431287)—from the TOviTO® clinical trial program for STIOLTO RESPIMAT, which includes more than 15,000 people with varying severities of COPD worldwide. OTEMTO® 1&2 were 12-week placebo-controlled trials, and TONADO® 1&2 were 52-week active-controlled trials, which together evaluated STIOLTO RESPIMAT in more than 6,700 COPD patients. Data from OTEMTO® 1&2 were recently published online in the journal Respiratory Medicine.

About the RESPIMAT® Inhaler
The RESPIMAT is the platform inhaler for the Boehringer Ingelheim respiratory therapies. Only the RESPIMAT inhaler actively delivers a slow-moving mist that helps patients inhale the medication.

The RESPIMAT inhaler delivers medication independent of inspiratory effort. As with all inhaled drugs, the actual amount of drug delivered to the lung may depend on patient factors, such as coordination between actuation of the inhaler and inspiration through the delivery system. The duration of inhalation should be at least as long as the spray duration (1.5 seconds).

INDICATION for STIOLTO RESPIMAT
Stiolto Respimat (tiotropium bromide and olodaterol) Inhalation Spray is a combination of tiotropium, an anticholinergic, and olodaterol, a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA), indicated for the long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

Important Limitations of Use
STIOLTO is NOT indicated to treat acute deterioration of COPD and is not indicated to treat asthma.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for STIOLTO RESPIMAT

WARNING: ASTHMARELATED DEATH

Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (LABA) such as olodaterol, one of the active ingredients in STIOLTO RESPIMAT, increase the risk of asthma-related death. Data from a large, placebo-controlled US study that compared the safety of another long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (salmeterol) with placebo added to usual asthma therapy showed an increase in asthma-related deaths in patients receiving salmeterol. This finding with salmeterol is considered a class effect of all LABA, including olodaterol, one of the active ingredients in STIOLTO RESPIMAT. The safety and efficacy of STIOLTO RESPIMAT in patients with asthma have not been established. STIOLTO RESPIMAT is not indicated for the treatment of asthma.

CONTRAINDICATION
All LABA are contraindicated in patients with asthma without use of a long-term asthma control medication. STIOLTO is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to tiotropium, ipratropium (atropine derivatives), olodaterol, or any component of this product.

In clinical trials and postmarketing experience with tiotropium, immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema (including swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat), itching, or rash have been reported. Hypersensitivity reactions were also reported in clinical trials with STIOLTO.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
STIOLTO should not be initiated in patients with acutely deteriorating COPD, which may be a life-threatening condition, or used as rescue therapy for acute symptoms. Acute symptoms should be treated with an inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist. Patients who have been taking inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonists on a regular basis should discontinue the regular use of these drugs and use them only for acute respiratory symptoms.

STIOLTO should not be used more often or at higher doses than recommended, or in conjunction with other LABA as an overdose may result.

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including urticaria, angioedema, rash, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis, or itching may occur after administration of STIOLTO. If such a reaction occurs, discontinue therapy with STIOLTO and consider alternative treatments. Patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to atropine or its derivatives should be closely monitored for similar hypersensitivity reactions to STIOLTO.

If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, STIOLTO should be discontinued immediately.

STIOLTO can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients, as measured by increases in pulse rate, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and/or symptoms. If such effects occur, STIOLTO may need to be discontinued.

Use caution in patients with convulsive disorders, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, ketoacidosis, in patients with known or suspected prolongation of the QT interval, and in patients who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines.

Use with caution in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma. Instruct patients to contact a physician immediately if signs or symptoms of acute narrow-angle glaucoma develop (e.g., eye pain or discomfort, blurred vision, visual halos or colored images in association with red eyes from conjunctival congestion and corneal edema).

Use with caution in patients with urinary retention, which can be associated with symptoms like difficulty passing urine and painful urination in patients with prostatic hyperplasia or bladder-neck obstruction. Instruct patients to consult a physician immediately should any of these signs or symptoms develop.

Patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance of ≤60 mL/min) treated with STIOLTO should be monitored closely for anticholinergic side effects.

Be alert to hypokalemia, which has the potential to produce adverse cardiovascular effects. Be alert to hyperglycemia.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions with STIOLTO (>3% incidence and higher than any of the comparators – tiotropium and/or olodaterol) were: nasopharyngitis, 12.4% (11.7%/12.6%), cough, 3.9% (4.4%/3.0%), and back pain, 3.6% (1.8%/3.4%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Use caution if administering adrenergic drugs because sympathetic effects of olodaterol may be potentiated.
Concomitant treatment with xanthine derivatives, steroids, or diuretics may potentiate any hypokalemic effect of olodaterol.
Beta agonists, such as olodaterol, can acutely worsen the ECG changes and/or hypokalemia that may result from administration of non-potassium sparing diuretics. The action of adrenergic agents on the cardiovascular system may be potentiated by monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants or other drugs known to prolong the QTc interval. Therefore beta-agonists should be used with extreme caution in patients being treated with these drugs. Drugs that prolong the QTc interval may be associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias.
Beta-blockers should be used with caution as they can inhibit the therapeutic effect of beta agonists which may produce severe bronchospasms in patients with COPD. However, under certain circumstances, e.g. as prophylaxis after myocardial infarction, there may be no acceptable alternatives to the use of beta-blockers in patients with COPD. In this setting, cardio selective beta-blockers could be considered, although they should be administered with caution.
Avoid co-administration of STIOLTO with other anticholinergic-containing drugs as this may lead to an increase in anticholinergic adverse effects.

STIOLTO is for oral inhalation only. The STIOLTO cartridge is only intended for use with the STIOLTO RESPIMAT inhaler.

Inform patients not to spray STIOLTO into the eyes.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please click for full Prescribing Information including boxed WARNING, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use for STIOLTO RESPIMAT.

About COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. This disease can make breathing harder because less air is able to flow in and out of the lungs.

Chronic lower respiratory diseases, which include COPD, are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and approximately 15 million Americans have been told by a healthcare provider that they have COPD.

The most common symptom of COPD is shortness of breath, especially with physical activities. Coughing, with or without mucus production, is also a common symptom of COPD. These symptoms can be misunderstood as signs of aging. COPD is usually associated with progressive airway damage and loss that cause breathing to get more difficult.

Leading Respiratory Forward
Through research, treatments and patient-centric support services, the Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) lung health portfolio is designed to help address the challenges people living with a lung disease face every day. Leveraging the company's cutting edge science and leadership in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), BI is researching new treatment approaches where needs persist. It is the company's goal to make a difference in the lives of patients with COPD, asthma, lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other respiratory diseases.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, the company operates globally with 146 affiliates and more than 47,000 employees. Since its founding in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel treatments for human and veterinary medicine.

Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to improving lives and providing valuable services and support to patients and families. Our employees create and engage in programs that strengthen our communities. To learn more about how we make more health for more people, visit our Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

In 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about $16.96 billion dollars (13.3 billion euros). R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.9 percent of its net sales.

For more information please visit www.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com, or follow us on Twitter @BoehringerUS.

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SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.