EU Commissions Backs New GSK Asthma Drug

Following the green light from health regulator European Medicines Agency, the European Commission is expected to decide on a final approval for GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) injectable asthma drug, Nucala, before the end of 2015.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to give its decision on Nucala, which is being recommended for asthma patients who don't respond well to traditional inhalers, by Nov. 4. The monthly injection is also being tested for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Analysts said the new product could help boost GSK's respiratory franchise as demand weakens for its asthma drug, Advair. In monetary terms, the value of this market is calculated to be potentially in the multi-billion dollar range.

GSK and other drugmakers including the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca, Switzerland’s Roche, Israeli’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and France’s Sanofi, are also developing drugs that take a more personalized approach to asthma care.