The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Verona Pharma's Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adult patients. This marks the first inhaled product with a novel mechanism of action approved for COPD in more than two decades.
Novel Mechanism of Action
Ohtuvayre is a first-in-class selective dual inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4). This unique mechanism combines bronchodilator and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory effects into a single molecule. Administered directly to the lungs via a standard jet nebulizer, Ohtuvayre does not require high inspiratory flow rates or complex hand-breath coordination.
Clinical Efficacy
The approval is supported by data from the Phase III ENHANCE-1 and ENHANCE-2 trials, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in June 2023. These studies demonstrated significant improvements in lung function, with Ohtuvayre resulting in an 87-mL and 94-mL improvement in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in ENHANCE-1 and ENHANCE-2, respectively.
Furthermore, Ohtuvayre significantly reduced the rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations and prolonged the time to first exacerbation. These findings suggest Ohtuvayre has the potential to change the treatment paradigm for COPD, according to a March 2024 report from GlobalData.
Market Impact and Availability
Verona Pharma anticipates launching Ohtuvayre in the third quarter of 2024. CEO David Zaccardelli stated that the company is fully staffed and prepared to ensure Ohtuvayre is available to the millions of patients who continue to experience daily COPD symptoms. The company has secured approximately $1 billion in financing to support the drug's rollout and will leverage an exclusive network of accredited specialty pharmacies.
The Ritedose Corporation is the development and manufacturing partner for Ohtuvayre. Jody Chastain, president and CEO of Ritedose, emphasized the company's readiness to deliver significant doses of Ohtuvayre, ensuring the novel therapy reaches commercialization efficiently.
COPD Landscape
COPD affects over 480 million people globally and more than 14 million in the United States. Despite existing treatments, approximately half of COPD patients experience daily symptoms such as shortness of breath and coughing. Ohtuvayre represents a significant advancement, offering a new approach to managing this chronic and debilitating condition. While there is no cure for COPD, treatments like Ohtuvayre aim to alleviate symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. COPD remains the third leading cause of death worldwide.
