GSK’s Trelegy and Breo Ellipta inhalers offer similar health benefits in fewer doses compared to generic inhalers. That’s according to a special report filed by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) as part of the public comment process on Medicare drug price negotiations for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The report evaluated the evidence of both treatments and found that the two inhalers offered the advantage of requiring one puff once per day, compared to similar treatments that require two inhalers administered twice daily. ICER wrote that observational data suggests that patients are more adherent to once-daily therapy, which may lead to fewer COPD exacerbations. The report added the caveat that, “the results have, at best, moderate certainty.”
“We conclude that Trelegy Ellipta has comparable or incremental net health benefits compared with other generic triple therapies requiring two or more inhalers administered twice daily and that Breo Ellipta has comparable or incremental net health benefit compared with generic inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist dual therapies administered twice daily,” ICER said in a news release.
“Over 15 million people in the United States suffer from COPD. Our special report focuses on the medical evidence and value of these two inhalers,” said ICER president and CEO Sarah K. Emond, MPP. “We recognize that our report will be one of many inputs CMS may consider, and we hope that it will help them as they continue to build a reliable, value-based, transparent drug price negotiation process on behalf of the American people.”
