GlaxoSmithKline leans on respiratory franchise with Trelegy share-grab

GlaxoSmithKline has said for years that the newer members of its respiratory franchise would step up to replace sales for blockbuster Advair when generics finally hit the scene. And thanks to a market-share grab for triple-drug COPD therapy Trelegy Ellipta, that strategy is working as planned.

Trelegy's slice of the COPD pie hit 31% in the third quarter, resulting in a $179 million sales haul––more than doubling its tally from the same period last year. The FDA approved Trelegy in COPD in September 2017, and GSK has filed an approval application with the agency for severe asthma. 

On the whole, GSK's newer respiratory products saw a combined 19% growth in sales on the quarter, reaching $1.04 billion in total revenue, the drugmaker said Wednesday. The combined growth of Trelegy and Nucala––which hit $261 million in revenue––helped offset an 8% decline in sales for Breo and the continued slide of Advair sales in the U.S.

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