Statement: GSK supports GOLD committee’s efforts to further personalise COPD management

GSK studies such as the landmark InforMing the PAthway of COPD Treatment (IMPACT) have contributed to the evidence base GOLD has considered in support of the main treatment classes.

“We strongly believe in a personalised approach to COPD management to help ensure the right treatment for the right patient and have generated a wealth of data to support this,” said Professor Neil Barnes, Global Franchise Medical Head, GSK Respiratory. “We’re pleased to see GOLD recognise this with an approach based on individual treatable traits and look forward to working with doctors to help translate this into routine clinical practice. We remain committed to generating evidence that supports key therapies such as dual bronchodilators and triple therapy to enable use by appropriate patients.”

The GOLD Strategy provides an evidence-based approach to improve COPD diagnosis, management and prevention. GSK’s 10,355-patient IMPACT trial is the first study to directly compare three commonly-used COPD combination treatment classes all delivered once daily and in the same inhaler type. It is also the largest trial to date to provide prospective evidence on the use of blood eosinophil count (BEC) as a marker in informing COPD treatment decisions.

Recognising the evidence from IMPACT, along with other clinical studies, GOLD recommends bronchodilation as foundation therapy for symptomatic patients and triple therapy for patients who continue to struggle despite maintenance therapy. GOLD also now includes updated information on key clinical characteristics, like BEC, exacerbation severity and frequency, level of symptoms and other clinical characteristics, that physicians should consider when determining the most appropriate class of therapy for individual patients.

With the broadest range of once-daily treatments using a single inhaler platform, GSK is well positioned to meet the individual needs of COPD patients as outlined by GOLD and is committed to contributing further evidence in the future to deliver a more personalised and simplified approach to treatment across disease severity and patients’ needs.

About COPD

COPD is a progressive lung disease that is thought to affect around 384 million people worldwide.

For people living with COPD, the inability to breathe normally can consume their daily lives and make simple activities, like walking upstairs, an everyday struggle. Patients with COPD suffer from symptoms of breathlessness and many have a significant risk of exacerbations. Managing these aspects of the disease drives physician treatment choice.

Long-term exposure to inhaled irritants that damage the lungs and the airways are usually the cause of COPD. Cigarette smoke, breathing in second hand smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes or dust from the environment or workplace can all contribute to COPD. Most people who have COPD are at least 40 years old when symptoms begin.

Every person with COPD is different, with different needs, different challenges and different goals. Understanding this and providing support to help meet these needs is the foundation of GSK’s work.