A new therapy for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder has hit UK shores after Teva launched its new inhaler DuoResp Spiromax (budesonide/formoterol).
The inhaler holds a license to treat patients aged 18 or over suffering from these conditions where use of a inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist is appropriate.
The burden of respiratory diseases in the UK is significant. Treating the 5.4 million people with asthma costs the NHS around £1 billion a year and causes more than 1,100 deaths, an incredible 90% of which are preventable, while COPD, which is thought to affect up to 3.7 million people, is the second largest cause of emergency hospital admission in the country, costing around £500 million year.
This highlights that, despite several therapies already on the market, a huge number of patients are still failing to managing their illness. Much of this is down to improper use of inhalers, Teva notes, which it is hoping could be addressed with its new device.
“The intuitive Spiromax inhaler device aids simpler inhaler technique” said Kevin Gruffydd-Jones, GP Principal, Box, Wiltshire, which “has the potential to improve asthma and COPD management and control”.
European regulators approved the inhaler in April.
