Asthma

Top news of the week from Pharmacy Times®.

As a chronic respiratory disease, asthma has been considered a risk factor for COVID-19 by many experts and clinicians.

The inhaler sends data back to a mobile app in real time.

Contrary to World Health Organization recommendations, the benefits of steroids used in inhalers and nebulizers outweigh the risks.

The dupilumab pen features a hidden needle and single-press auto-injection, along with visual and audio feedback to help with administration.

Generic products featured in the May 2020 issue.

Patients with COVID-19 between the ages of 20 and 59 years who also had asthma needed a ventilator to assist with breathing for 5 days more on average than non-asthmatic patients with COVID-19, according to a press release.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a timely statement emphasizing the importance of asthma awareness and standing with parents, families, advocates, researchers, and health care professionals.

A study to help determine the incidence rate of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children and their family members has begun enrolling participants in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Pharmacists should understand their mechanisms to facilitate high-quality, collaborative management with physicians.

Pharmacists can educate patients about the nonprescription asthma inhaler that recently returned to the market.

The American Lung Association (ALA) has started a $25M initiative to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and other future respiratory virus pandemics.

This medication inhaler is indicated for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in patients ages 4 years and older who have reversible obstructive airway disease.

The study, which includes data from asthma patient samples and mouse models, is the first to definitively show a relationship between iron build-up in the lung cells and tissues and the severity of asthma, according to the researchers.

In the first report of its kind, a recent study compiled Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data from 2002 to 2013 to evaluate a bidirectional association between asthma and migraines in Korean adults.

The FDA is now requiring a boxed warning for montelukast (Singulair) to strengthen the existing warning about the risk of neuropsychiatric events.

The product will be immediately launched with limited commercial qualities, and manufacturers expect that there will be a steady supply by the fourth quarter of 2020.

Results from a new retrospective analysis have shown that patients prescribed tiotropium bromide (Spiriva Respimat) inhalation spray 1.25 mcg experienced fewer asthma-related exacerbations when the treatment was added to a combination inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2 agonist (ICS + LABA), compared with patients who received an increased dose of ICS + LABA.

Advancements in the understanding of asthma pathophysiology has led to the discovery of defined asthma phenotypes and targeted interventions involving novel biologic therapies.

A recent study demonstrated that budesonide-formoterol is superior to albuterol for as-needed exacerbation prevention in mild asthma.

Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds directly to the IL-5 receptor alpha on eosinophils and attracts natural killer cells to induce rapid depletion of eosinophils via programmed cell death.

Can MH safely take albuterol instead of levalbuterol?

The results of a study of almost 500,000 women indicate that taking paracetamol or other painkillers during pregnancy does not increase the risk of asthma in children.

Pivotal phase 3 trial results show benefits for once-daily fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI; Trelegy Ellipta) in patients with uncontrolled asthma compared with standard FF/VI (Breo Ellipta) therapy.

The results of a new study by George Washington University show that about 4 million children worldwide develop asthma annually because of nitrogen dioxide inhalation through air pollution.

The new phase 2 data for an investigational once-daily, fixed dose combination currently in development for the treatment of inadequately controlled asthma was presented at the 2019 Annual International Congress of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in Dallas.

Pivotal phase 3 trial results show benefits for once-daily fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI; Trelegy Ellipta) in patients with uncontrolled asthma compared with standard FF/VI (Breo Ellipta) therapy.

Pharmacists have a great opportunity to educate patients about how to stay healthy and counsel those in need of symptom relief about their allergy treatment options.

Patients can breathe easier knowing that their local pharmacists are ideally positioned to help them manage their allegy, asthma and COPD conditions.