Mepolizumab approved for uncontrolled COPD patients in Spain

A new therapeutic option, mepolizumab, has been integrated into the Spanish National Health System for patients with uncontrolled Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Developed by GSK, the monoclonal antibody targets interleukin 5 (IL-5) and is intended for patients with high blood eosinophil levels.

Administered via subcutaneous injection every four weeks, the drug serves as maintenance therapy alongside inhaled triple therapy. The approval is based on the Phase III Matinee clinical trial, which involved 804 patients. The study demonstrated that mepolizumab reduced the annual rate of moderate or severe exacerbations by 21% compared to a placebo. Notably, the reduction in exacerbations requiring emergency care or hospitalization reached 35%, increasing to 43% in patients followed for over a year.

David de la Rosa, president of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), noted that new treatment options are essential for patients facing frequent exacerbations.