AstraZeneca competes with GSK on asthma drugs

AstraZeneca has been promoting its Symbicort asthma treatment that is in competition with GlaxoSmithKline’s drug Seretide, according to reports.

Earlier this month, AstraZeneca presented data showing that patients administered with Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) via an inhalation aerosol, compared to those that used only budesonide or formoterol, achieved improvements in their lung function, with a reduced risk of asthma-worsening episodes.

Symbicort is administered twice a day to improve lung function and long-lasting relief from the symptoms of asthma.

Max Herrmann, an analyst at ING, wrote in a note to clients that Seretide had an inbuilt advantage over AstraZeneca’s product due to its improved marketing, strong data and earlier launch date, the News Journal reports.

“However, Symbicort is a growing product that offers alternative benefits to Seretide. Both products will be key beneficiaries from the growth of the respiratory disease area and, consequently, both products will be successful.”

Symbicort was approved in two dose strengths by the Food and Drug Authority in July, with the company noting that combination therapy for the long-term control of moderate and severe asthma has been recommended by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Programme, part of the National Institutes of Health.