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Fostair®, the first combination of beclometasone and formoterol in a metered-dose inhaler, launched in the UK for the regular treatment of adults with asthma
Fostair, the first and only metered-dose inhaler combining belcometasone dipropionate (inhaled corticosteroid, ICS) and formoterol fumarate dihydrate (long-acting beta2 agonist, LABA) is launched in the UK for the regular treatment of adults with asthma requiring treatment with a combination of ICS and LABA.1 Fostair offers comparable efficacy to commonly used strengths of the only other combination inhalers available SeretideTM and Symbicort®,2, 3 has a speed of onset of bronchodilation of within 5 minutes,3 and is the only formoterol containing combination available in the familiar metered-dose inhaler (MDI).4
It is at least 20% less expensive than comparable strengths of Seretide and Symbicort 5 and research suggests that if all dose-comparable eligible patients, both existing and new, had been treated with Fostair the NHS would have saved over £40 million in one year,5 the equivalent to employing an extra 3,600 Grade E Nurses across the UK.6
Efficacy has been shown in two separate phase III head-to-head, randomised, doubleblind studies comparing Fostair with both Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) and Seretide (salmeterol / fluticasone). In these studies Fostair demonstrated comparable morning Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) with the other combinations.2, 3 The second study showed that patients treated with Fostair had a statistically significantly faster improvement in lung function (FEV1) compared to patients treated with Seretide. 3
"The arrival of Fostair will offer an important new treatment alternative to UK clinicians. It combines two effective asthma treatments, belcometasone dipropionate and formoterol with which we are very familiar. I am sure its introduction as another choice of combination inhaler will be welcomed" said Professor Neil Barnes, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at the London Chest Hospital, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London.
About £500,000,000 is spent each year on fixed combination inhalers.5 Last year the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its Final Appraisal Determination on inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of adults which recommends the use of the least expensive ICS / LABA combination for patients with chronic asthma.7 The NICE guidance is expected to be issued to the NHS in the first quarter of 2008.
Fostair combines, belcometasone dipropionate, a widely used inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), and fomoterol a long acting beta-2-receptor agonist (LABA) with a rapid onset of action. Fostair is delivered via a familiar, 120 actuation metered-dose inhaler and has a dose regimen also familiar to most adults with asthma.1
Fostair is licensed for the regular treatment of adult asthma (18 years of age and over) where ICS and LABA is appropriate1:
- Patients not adequately controlled with ICSs and 'as needed' inhaled short-acting beta2 agonists
- Patients already adequately controlled on both ICSs and LABAs
- Not indicated for the treatment of acute asthma attacks
The side effect profile of Fostair has been shown to be consistent with that of a combination ICS and LABA.1 In the head-to-head studies with other combination inhalers, no differences were observed between treatments in frequency of adverse events.2, 5
There are approximately 5.2 million adult patients with asthma in the UK, with 640,000 being treated with fixed dose combination inhalers. It is estimated that each year 128,000 new patients will be suitable for treatment with a combination inhaler.4