The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Chiesi USA's New Drug Application for its investigational triple combination inhaler designed for maintenance treatment of asthma in adults. The regulatory milestone represents a potential expansion of treatment options for the millions of Americans living with uncontrolled asthma.
Chiesi's single inhaler triple therapy combines three active ingredients in a single device: beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), an inhaled corticosteroid; formoterol fumarate (FF), a long-acting beta-agonist; and glycopyrrolate (G), an anticholinergic. The therapy is administered twice daily via a pressurized metered-dose inhaler using a particle formulation designed for deep lung deposition.
"The FDA's acceptance of Chiesi's New Drug Application for our fixed-dose triple combination inhaler represents another important step in our journey to delivering solutions that address respiratory needs and reduce the burden that persists for people living with asthma, their caregivers, and the healthcare system in the U.S.," said Martin Marciniak, Vice President of U.S. Medical Affairs at Chiesi.
Clinical Development Program
The NDA submission is supported by data from the TRIMARAN and TRIGGER studies, which are double-blind, parallel group, randomized, active-controlled Phase 3 trials. Chiesi's robust clinical trial program evaluated the safety and efficacy of the triple combination therapy in more than 2,500 patients with uncontrolled asthma.
The investigational inhaler was the world's first fixed triple combination in a single inhaler and is currently commercialized in nearly 50 countries outside the United States, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and China, where it is marketed under the brand name TRIMBOW®.
Addressing Unmet Medical Need
Asthma represents a significant health burden in the United States, affecting more than 25 million people. Despite the availability of existing treatments, an estimated 60% of adults with asthma continue to experience frequent symptoms, which can lead to emergency room visits, interruption to daily activities, missed work, and reduced quality of life.
"Among the 28 million people in the U.S. who have asthma, many experience symptoms that disrupt daily life and have lasting effects on their lung health and function--and tragically, nine people die from asthma complications every day," said Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. "New treatment options offer the potential for improved asthma management. Expanding choices means more opportunities for patients and their care teams to find solutions that meet individual needs and improve quality of life."
Disease Burden and Economic Impact
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory respiratory disease that causes inflammation in the airways. People with asthma can experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness, often daily for those with severe cases. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening, with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing that more than 3,600 adults die from asthma each year in the U.S., averaging nine deaths per day.
The disease also places a major burden on the healthcare system and economy, costing the United States an estimated $82 billion annually. This economic impact underscores the need for more effective treatment options that can better control symptoms and reduce healthcare utilization.
Company Background
Chiesi USA is a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, and a wholly owned subsidiary of privately-owned Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, based in Parma, Italy. The company has more than 45 years of respiratory expertise and delivers therapies in acute cardiology, neonatology, cystic fibrosis, and rare diseases in the United States.
"Respiratory care is in our DNA--we have created medicines in this area for more than four decades, and transformed respiratory care by creating and commercializing the first triple therapy for asthma outside the U.S.," Marciniak noted. "We are bringing our respiratory expertise to the U.S. to help even more people live healthier lives."
