New data demonstrated that the asthma therapy Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dehydrate), provides a rapid, clinically significant bronchodilatory response, defined as the median time to achieve ≥15% improvement in lung function within 15 minutes after administration.

In addition, these data demonstrated that in comparison to its monocomponents (budesonide and formoterol) and placebo, Symbicort and the other treatment groups containing formoterol had a faster bronchodilatory response than budesonide or placebo. The combined study results, involving patients with mild-to-severe persistent asthma who previously required treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) held in San Diego, February 23-27, 2007.

The asthma therapy Symbicort is a newly approved, twice-daily, inhaled combination therapy containing budesonide, a corticosteroid, and formoterol, a rapid and long-acting beta2-agonist. It is indicated for the long-term maintenance treatment of asthma in patients ages 12 and older. Symbicort is not indicated for patients whose asthma can be successfully managed by inhaled corticosteroids along with occasional use of inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonists.

Additional data from these studies presented at AAAAI showed Symbicort provided significantly greater improvements in asthma control compared to its monocomponents (budesonide or formoterol) or placebo in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma who required an ICS. In patients with moderate-to-severe asthma who required an ICS, Symbicort also demonstrated significantly greater improvement in lung function compared to its monocomponents (budesonide or formoterol) or placebo.

“With an estimated 20 million patients currently suffering from asthma in the US, Symbicort represents an exciting new treatment option and a welcome addition to our respiratory franchise,” said Chris O’Brien, senior director, medical science, AstraZeneca. “We are dedicated to the development of new, effective treatments to improve lung health and are looking forward to making Symbicort available in the US.”

asthma therapy Symbicort