New analysis for Esbriet (pirfenidone) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis- Roche

Roche announced that new clinical data and abstracts on Esbriet (pirfenidone) in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are being presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) congress. A pooled analysis from the ASCEND and CAPACITY phase III studies showed a 38% reduction in risk of death (p=0.0515) in IPF patients who stayed on Esbriet treatment up to two years (120 weeks) compared with placebo. Previously reported data at one year showed the risk of mortality was reduced by 48% after treatment with Esbriet, a statistically significant result. The new data at 120 weeks show a strong trend in a reduced risk of death with long-term Esbriet treatment in IPF.

Also presented at the ERS, an ad-hoc analysis of the pooled ASCEND and CAPACITY data showed patients who are hospitalised within the first six months of treatment saw their risk of disease progression (at least 10% decline in lung function) or death reduced by more than two-thirds (relative difference = 72.2%) at one year by remaining on Esbriet treatment, compared with placebo.

Comment: New results for competitor Ofev, from Boehringer, suggest that the treatment has a long-term effect (approximately two years) on slowing disease progression across both pivotal and open-label trials. These new data are important particularly because people with IPF may be on therapy for an extended period.