Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) Cinqaero Given A Recommendation By Nice For Treatment Of Severe Asthma

UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, an assessor of health technology, has given its recommendation for Cinqaero. The monoclonal antibody which has been developed by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) was initially approved in August 2016 in Europe as a therapy for adult patients suffering from severe eosinophilic asthma and whose response to other treatments is poor.

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“Teva is very pleased to receive this decision by NICE as we seek to expand the availability of reslizumab (CINQAERO®) globally in an effort to ensure that patients living with severe, uncontrolled asthma have access to this treatment option,” Teva’s Global Respiratory Medicines head and senior vice president, Sven Dethlefs, said.

Monoclonal antibody

University of Oxford’s respiratory medicine professor, Ian Pavord, welcomed the decision to offer Cinqaero a marketing authorization in the United Kingdom saying that patients suffering from severe asthma continued to experience serious asthma attacks and uncontrolled symptoms.

The monoclonal antibody which is marketed in Canada and the United States as Cinqair first got the approval of the Food and Drug Administration last year in March. Within a period of two months it is expected that the recommendation will be published as a final guidance. This will unlock reimbursement from UK’s public healthcare provider, the NHS for the drug.

Minor additional benefits

A few weeks ago Germany’s Federal Joint Committee made the determination that in certain cases of asthma, the drug offers minor additional benefits and this could also allow reimbursement for the drug in the future. Price negotiations with the German body are expected to begin later this month.

According to Asthma UK’s chief executive, Kay Boycott, the therapy offers patients suffering from severe asthma a chance for an improved quality of life. Boycott also noted that the treatment will only help a certain category of asthma sufferers and that additional research needed to be done in order to offer effective treatments to those whose asthma conditions are yet to get a cure. It is estimated that Cinqaero will only treat between 30% and 40% of the patients suffering from severe asthma.

On Thursday shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries rose by 1.63% to close at $32.43.

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