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| |  Advair Approved In Canada For Treatment Of Asthma TORONTO, ON -- November 23, 1999 -- Advair(TM) (salmeterol xinafoate, fluticasone propionate), the first prescription medication to treat both components of asthma has been approved for use in Canada by the Health Protection Branch. A new inhaled treatment for the management of asthma, Advair is the first asthma medication to treat both the symptoms which result from airway tightness in the lungs, and the inflammation in the airways which is the underlying cause of asthma.
Experts believe Advair will play an important role in helping to reduce the vast majority of symptoms for patients suffering from the disease and enable them to lead active, normal lives. Asthma is a serious chronic lung disease affecting over two million Canadians. In Canada, approximately 500 people die each year from asthma. With adequate treatment, however, most of these deaths can be prevented. "At the end of this century, many Canadians living with asthma are still experiencing major lifestyle restrictions, sleepless nights, and coughing or wheezing on a daily basis," said Bill VanGorder, Vice President, Canadian Lung Association. "People need to know that improved control of this disease and a symptom-free life are possible for nearly all people diagnosed with asthma. There is no reason why thousands of Canadians with asthma should live with symptoms or limit their everyday activities because of this disease. A treatment such as Advair proves what is possible." Initial results from one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys of its kind, the Asthma in Canada survey suggests that over half of all Canadian asthma patients have poorly controlled asthma.(1) Conducted by The Angus Reid Group, the survey also reveals that poor control or management of the disease means people with asthma are suffering needlessly. However, with recent advances in asthma care, physicians believe that most patients can live symptom-free. "Advair will undoubtedly help to close the gap in asthma care - the gap between complete freedom from asthma disability and the needless symptoms still suffered by many Canadian patients," said Dr. Chapman, Director of the Asthma Centre of the University Health Network and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. "The Asthma in Canada survey shows us that the majority of Canadian patients with asthma fail to enjoy the standards of good health recommended by the Canadian asthma guidelines. Today, our balanced approach to asthma should make lifestyle restrictions avoidable for the overwhelming majority of patients." Advair represents the latest advance in asthma treatment. It improves lung function and provides excellent control of symptoms over 24 hours, helping asthmatics to live without nighttime awakenings, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. Advair also reduces the incidence of asthma attacks a patient may suffer from, as well as their need for rescue medications. Taken twice daily using a convenient and easy-to-use Diskus(R) inhaler device, Advair is well tolerated. The most common side effects include hoarseness/dysphonia, throat irritation, headache and thrush. Poorly controlled asthma can lead to hospitalizations, emergency room visits, sick days and activity limitations that can cause asthma sufferers to accept a much lower quality of life. In Canada, asthma is the leading cause of emergency room visits and a leading cause of absenteeism from school and work. Patients who underestimate the severity of their condition, or the potential for effective control, are less likely to seek care or tell doctors everything they should. "Having used Advair as part of a clinical trial for the last 10 months, I believe it is the best asthma medication I've ever used," stated Deryk Jones, a long-term asthmatic who resides in Alberta. "I'm a very active person who exercises a lot and I find the medication both effective and easy-to-use." Several recent studies in other countries have shown that asthma care often does not meet the standards set by international guidelines. "We often hear about the health care costs associated with asthma but there has been very little research looking into the human impact of the disease here in Canada," said Dr. Michael Levy, Senior Vice-President, Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer at Glaxo Wellcome. "The preliminary results from the Asthma in Canada survey have already identified some very disturbing trends. Clearly many people with asthma do not realize that with proper treatment they can be free of symptoms. Many seem to accept poor control as an inevitable part of the illness. Advair will set a new standard for asthma management allowing the majority of patients to lead a normal active life." The complete results of the landmark Asthma in Canada survey are expected early in the new year and will explore asthma prevalence, the frequency and severity of symptoms, use of emergency care, quality of life and quality of care issues. Interviews have been completed with a national sample of 1001 adults with asthma or parents of children with asthma and 266 physicians. The survey was conducted by the national public-opinion research organization, The Angus Reid Group and commissioned by Glaxo Wellcome. Advair is an innovative medicine from Glaxo Wellcome Inc., a research- based company committed to improving the lives of Canadians by fighting disease. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Glaxo Wellcome Inc. employs more than 1,350 people across Canada who work to discover, develop, manufacture and market new medicines for the treatment of asthma, COPD, migraine, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Through the Glaxo Wellcome Foundation, the company makes significant contributions to charitable organizations and events with a focus on hospice/palliative care in Canada. The company is part of U.K.-based Glaxo Wellcome plc, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies.
- Asthma is a chronic lung disease resulting in recurrent attacks of breathlessness, generally accompanied by wheezing, chest tightness and/or coughing. - Asthma is due to inflammation of the airways in the lungs. This inflammation becomes chronic which causes the nerve endings in the airways to become hypersensitive so that the lungs are easily irritated. - While the exact cause of asthma is unknown, there are a number of known or common triggers and provoking stimuli including pet/animal dander, cigarette smoke, dust mites, pollen, cold air, exercise, changes in weather, and respiratory infections. - Approximately two million Canadians, or 6.4 per cent of the adult population (older than 12 years of age), suffer from asthma.(2) - In Canada, 10 to 15 per cent of children have asthma, and some experts believe it is as high as 20 per cent.(3) - It is estimated that more than 80 per cent of asthma deaths could have been prevented with proper asthma management and education.(4) - Asthma is the number one cause of emergency room visits.(3) Every year in Canada there are 146,000 emergency room visits due to asthma attacks.(5) - According to the World Health Organization, asthma is now a serious public health problem with over 100 million sufferers worldwide.(6)
References: (1) The associated margin of error in the survey is 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20. Asthma control was assessed using the Canadian Asthma Consensus Conference criteria for control (1996). Survey respondents were classified as poorly controlled if they fell short of the acceptable levels of control outlined in the guidelines as they relate to two or more of the following criteria; 1)physical activity, 2)absenteeism, 3)daytime symptoms 4)sleep disturbance 5)asthma attacks, 6)use of relief medications.
Related Link: Glaxo Wellcome Inc.
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