Fostair launched in UK as cheaper than GSK/AZ asthma MDIs

UK-based Trinity Chiesi Pharmaceuticals has launched Fostair, the first and only metered-dose inhaler combining belcometasone dipropionate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate, in its domestic market for the regular treatment of adults with asthma requiring treatment with a combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-2 agonists.

The agent offers comparable efficacy to commonly-used strengths of the only other combination inhalers available as Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca's Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) and UK-based giant GlaxoSmikthKline's Seretide (salmeterol/fluticasone), has a speed of onset of bronchodilation of within five minutes, and is the only formoterol containing combination available in the familiar metered-dose inhaler, the firm noted.

Trinity Chiesi noted that its agent is at least 20% less expensive than comparable strengths of Seretide and Symbicort and research suggests that, if all dose-comparable eligible patients - both existing and new - had been treated with Fostair, the National Health Service would have saved over L40.0 million ($77.8 million) in one year, the equivalent to employing an extra 3,600 Grade E nurses across the country.