Theravance’s New Horizon (THRX, GSK)

Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ:THRX) today announced that they have commence Phase 3 of Horizon programme with GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK) to develop a next generation treatment for COPD. All patients within the Horizon programme will be dosed using a unique dual strip delivery service. This novel delivery device has been developed utilizing GSK’s expertise in device development and valuable patient input. GSK is one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. On the other hand Theravance Inc is also one of the leading biopharmaceutical companies with a pipeline of internally discovered product candidates that focused on areas like respiratory diseases and bacterial infections.

The Horizon programme consists of broad range of large scale Phase 3 trials that evaluate the investigational once a day long acting beta agonist (LABA), 642444 in combination with the once a day inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and fluticasone furoate (FF) for the treatment of COPD. In addition to the COPD development programme, Theravance and GSK both remain committed to the progression of the Horizon programme for the treatment of asthma and are also looking forward to announcing further details about it in coming months. The overall programme will study more than 6000 patients to find treatment for COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a pair of two commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed which leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs causing shortness of breath. In contrast to asthma, the limitation of airflow is poorly reversible and usually gets progressively worse over time. Currently, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in United States and more than US$42.6 billion was spent on the healthcare costs for COPD. The primary endpoint of this Horizon programme is the rate of COPD exacerbations.