Asthma Therapy Now Available in US Pharmacies

Patients with asthma can now access Spiriva Respimat with a prescription at pharmacies across the country.

Spiriva Respimat, a long-acting anticholinergic, is from the first new class of inhaled medicine approved in more than 10 years of asthma treatment, according to Boehringer Ingelheim.

The FDA approved the use of Spiriva Respimat as a once-daily dose of 2.5 µg for the long-term maintenance of asthma in patients aged 12 and older.

“Despite taking other daily maintenance treatments, many people with asthma continue to experience symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath,” said Michael Foggs, chief of allergy and immunology for the Advocate Medical Group at Advocate Health Care Chicago, in a press release. “For these patients, adding Spiriva Respimat to maintenance controller therapy may help open airways to improve breathing and reduce the likelihood of asthma flare-ups or exacerbation.”

The FDA’s approval of the asthma treatment was based on study data involving more than 5000 individuals with mild, moderate, and severe asthma who took at least an inhaled corticosteroid.

“Spiriva Respimat is a new treatment option for asthma patients who remain symptomatic despite their maintenance treatment,” said William Mezzanotte, head of respiratory medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim, in a press release. “Spiriva Respimat significantly improves lung function and reduces the risk of exacerbations in patients who remain symptomatic despite their maintenance treatment.”