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On 29 September 2026, the HTA Council completed the evidence appraisal of fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) [100 mcg/62.5 mcg/25 mcg per pre-dispensed dose, dry powder inhalation (DPI)] and budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate (BUD/GLY/FORM) [160 mcg/7.2 mcg/4.8 mcg per actuation, pressurized metered-dose inhaler (MDI)] for the initial maintenance treatment and follow-up maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The HTA Council hereby releases its preliminary recommendations on the said health technologies for stakeholder feedback and comments from 29 September 2026 (Tuesday) to 13 October 2026 (Tuesday).

As a preliminary recommendation, the HTA Council recommends the government financing of FF/UMEC/VI [100 mcg/62.5 mcg/25 mcg per pre-dispensed dose, DPI] and BUD/GLY/FORM [160 mcg/7.2 mcg/4.8 mcg per actuation, pressurized MDI] for the following indications:

  • For initial maintenance treatment of patients with confirmed COPD classified as Group E (with any symptoms based on the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale [mMRC] or Chronic Airways Assessment Test [CAAT] and with >1 moderate or severe exacerbation in the previous year) and who are naive to maintenance pharmacological treatment and with a blood eosinophil count (BEC) of >300 cells/uL; and
  • For follow-up maintenance treatment of patients with COPD who have >1 moderate or severe exacerbation uncontrolled with long-acting beta-agonist/long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LABA/LAMA) or LABA/inhaled corticosteroid (LABA/ICS), and with BEC of >100 cells/uL.

For the supporting evidence reviewed and discussed by the HTA Council, please refer to the document below.

All comments, inputs, and/or appeals on the preliminary recommendation may be submitted until 13 October 2026 (Tuesday), for the consideration of the HTA Council, through email at hta@dost.gov.ph. Please use the prescribed form for appeals indicated on the official HTA Council website [https://hta.dost.gov.ph/appeals-2/]. Appeals not following the prescribed format and those submitted beyond the deadline shall not be entertained.

[SIGNED] HTA Council Preliminary Recommendation on Fluticasone_Umeclidinium_Vilanterol and Budesonide_Glycopyrronium_Formoterol for COPD
[Evidence to Preliminary Recommendation] Triple Therapies (FF_UMEC_VI and BUD_GLY_FORM) for COPD