Altana: Single dose Alvesco as effective as twice daily fluticasone

Altana Pharma, the German pharmaceutical company, has said that a new, low-dosage “stepping down” form of Alvesco (ciclesonide), the once-daily asthma treatment, is as effective a maintenance therapy as twice-daily fluticasone propionate, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline in the UK as Flixonase and Flixotide.

This makes Alvesco more compliant with Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, which indicate that medication should be reduced to the smallest amount necessary to control the disease.

Altana’s claim follows recent data from a clinical trial, which showed that a once-daily 160 microgram dose of Alvesco is as effective 250 microgram fluticasone propionate twice-daily.

Professor Martin Adler of the Belmont Health Centre in Harrow, said: “This study demonstrates that ciclesonide is as effective in maintaining asthma symptom control as another widely used therapy, and at a lower dose.”

“In addition, because ciclesonide has once-daily dosing convenience, we may increase patient compliance and have a significant impact on quality of life,” he added.

Earlier this week, it was reported by AFX that Altana wants to receive bids for its pharmaceutical unit by September 8th.

The agency sites a report from the Franfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which said that two private equity firms and the Danish-based company, Nycomed, were planning to launch bids.

© Adfero Ltd