New Asthma Drug Gets Good Reviews

Adding tiotropium bromide inhalation spray (Spiriva, Respimat/Boehringer Ingelheim) to other asthma therapies improved lung function and symptom control and reduced flare-ups, studies presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting is Los Angeles, CA found.

Summarizing the studies’ results in a news release the company quoted one investigator.

“The data confirm that adding SPIRIVA^® RESPIMAT^® is a well-tolerated and effective treatment option for asthma patients independent of allergic subtype,” said Mark Vandewalker, MD, director, Clinical Research of the Ozarks, Columbia, MO.

“For people with allergic asthma who are still experiencing symptoms, adding SPIRIVA^® RESPIMAT^® may help open airways to improve breathing.” Vandewalker said.

His study is here.

The drug is a new class of inhaled medicine and it is non-steroidal.

It is given long term, once daily as a prescription maintenance treatment for patients age 12 and older.

It is not a rescue medicine however.

There are several studies that contributed to the findings. They can be found on the meeting’s abstracts page by searching “tiotropium.”