GSK's new drug for COPD in China has been submitted for regulatory approval.

On February 21, GSK (US) announced that its new drug application for Nucala (dupilumab) for the maintenance treatment of patients with eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as an add-on therapy has been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration. If approved, dupilumab will be the first biologic approved for COPD patients with monthly administration. This application was based on the positive results of the III phase MATINEE study. The study recruited a wide range of COPD patients, including those with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. The results showed that the rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations in the dupilumab group was significantly lower than that in the placebo group, with clinical significance. Currently, COPD is mainly treated symptomatically, including glucocorticoids, bronchodilators, etc., but this cannot cure the disease. Dupilumab is the only approved biologic targeted drug for COPD, with a dosing frequency of every two weeks.