AstraZeneca Welcomes Preliminary Results From TORCH
Lund, Sweden (ots/PRNewswire)
- For Accredited International Medical Media Only
AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN , NYSE: AZN) has today welcomed preliminary results from the TORCH (TOwards a Revolution in COPD Health) study1, suggesting combination therapies containing an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA) have the potential to show mortality benefits for COPD patients.
The reported 17% reduction in mortality compared to placebo shown by the combination of an ICS and LABA further demonstrates the beneficial effects of this class of medicines and the positive impact on the lives of COPD patients. AstraZeneca looks forward to a more detailed presentation of the data.
Coupled with the mortality data, the preliminary results also underline the importance of preventing exacerbations as the key driver of mortality. Reduction of exacerbations is an area where the budesonide / formoterol ICS/LABA therapy (marketed by AstraZeneca as Symbicort(R)) has strong clinical data. Of particular note, a study2 by Calverley et al. demonstrated that Symbicort reduced risk of exacerbations(i) by 30% and 29% compared to formoterol and placebo respectively, resulting in a clinically important improvement in Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) compared to placebo.
Patients with COPD regard exacerbations as the aspect of their disease that they fear most. Severe acute exacerbations of COPD are associated independently with a poor prognosis and increased mortality. Studies have shown that between 22% - 43% of COPD patients hospitalised due to an exacerbation will be dead within one year3,4,5,6.
COPD is a major cause of death worldwide, and is currently the fourth most common cause of death after cancer, ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. Of these diseases, only COPD shows increasing rates of mortality. By 2020, COPD is anticipated to become the third most common cause of death worldwide.
For further information, or to speak to a respiratory expert about the clinical implications of today's TORCH results, please do not hesitate to contact:
Anette Orheim, AstraZeneca Office: +46-46-33-80-87, Mobile: +46-709-13-19-52
Or
Jim Baxter, Cohn & Wolfe Office: +44-207-331-5371, Mobile: +44-790-060-5652
References:
1) GSK Press Release 'GSK announces positive results of Seretide study in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)' 28th March 2006 (http://www.gsk.com/media/pressreleases.htm)
2) Calverley PM, Boonsawat Z, Zhong N, Peterson S and Olsson H. Maintenance therapy with budesonide and formoterol in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Resp J 2003; 22; 912-919.
3) Eriksen N, et al. Ugeskr Laeger 2003;165:3499-3502
4) Groenewegen KH, et al. Chest 2003;124:459-467
5) Almagro P, et al. Chest 2002;121:1441-1448
6) Connors AF, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1996;154:959-967
(i) Definition of an exacerbation: requiring medical intervention (oral antibiotics/and/or corticosteroids or hospitalisation)
Contact:
For further information, or to speak to a respiratory expert about
the
clinical implications of today's TORCH results, please do not
hesitate to
contact: Anette Orheim, AstraZeneca Office: +46-46-33-80-87, Mobile:
+46-709-13-19-52 Or Jim Baxter, Cohn & Wolfe Office:
+44-207-331-5371, Mobile: +44-790-060-5652