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| |  WAM: Qvar (Beclomethasone Diproprionate) More Effective than Chlorofluorocarbon-Containing Asthma Treatments CHICAGO, IL -- July 13, 2001 -- Today, at the Third Triennial World Asthma Meeting, Dr. Louis-Philippe Boulet presented recent studies looking at the clinical benefits of switching to the chlorofluorocarbon-free asthma treatment, Qvar™ (beclomethasone diproprionate). The two long-term studies examined the clinical impact of switching patients from chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) formulations of beclomethasone diproprionate (BDP) to extrafine aerosol (HFA) beclomethasone diproprionate, or Qvar, at half the daily dose. The results of these studies concluded that patients using Qvar had more time before the onset of an asthma attack in comparison to those using CFC-BDP. In addition, the study revealed that patients with asthma who were treated with Qvar had more than twice as many symptom-free days with half the dose of medication compared to those using a CFC-BDP. In one study, patients whose asthma was reported as stable with 400-1600 µg/day of CFC-BDP were randomized to CFC-BDP (n=119) at the same daily dose, or HFA-BDP (n=354) at approximately half the dose for 12 months. In the second study, patients with asthma that was adequately controlled with 1500 µg/day of CFC-BDP were randomized to CFC-BDP 1500 µg/day (n=71), or HFA-BDP 800 µg/day (n=70) for six months. Results showed no significant changes from baseline in morning peak expiratory flow or other measures of pulmonary function during either study. There was a trend towards an earlier onset of the first asthma exacerbation, or increased asthma symptoms, for those patients on CFC-BDP compared to those taking HFA-BDP in both studies (p=0.125 in the 12-month study, p=0.076 in the six-month study). In the 12-month study, 71.2 percent of HFA-BDP patients had no asthma-related adverse events at Month 12 compared with 56.7 percent for CFC-BDP, while the median percentage of symptom-free days was 42.4 for HFA-BDP and 20 for CFC-BDP (p=0.006). Increased asthma symptoms were reported by 27 percent of CFC-BDP patients compared with 14 percent of HFA-BDP patients during the six-month study. Dr. Boulet and the other researchers concluded that asthma control is improved in patients switching from a stable dose of CFC-BDP to HFA-BDP at approximately half the daily dose in terms of symptom control and asthma-related adverse events. This may reflect the increased delivery of BDP to the peripheral airways, which are poorly penetrated by CFC-BDP. "With conventional CFC inhalers, most of the dose is deposited in the pharynx and large airways," said Dr. Boulet, head of the respiratory therapy unit and director of the Asthma and Respiratory Allergy Unit at Laval Hospital, Sainte-Foy, Canada. "With its smaller particle size and its softer spray, Qvar ensures a more significant drug delivery to the peripheral airways. This may be of potential therapeutic benefit in asthmatic patients." "Qvar is the first and only inhaled corticosteroid delivery system designed to effectively treat inflammation in the large, intermediate and small airways. Qvar delivers more medication to the lungs and peripheral airways thus making it at least twice as effective at half the dose of CFC-BDP," said Tony Orfanides, manager, marketing operations, 3M Pharmaceuticals. "With a substantial increase in asthma prevalence noted in many countries, there is a significant and growing need for patient education, environmental control, as well as delivery systems that allows patients to receive consistent, effective and safe doses of medications such as corticosteroids, the mainstay of asthma treatment. Qvar certainly meets this criteria," concluded Dr. Boulet.
SOURCE: 3M Pharmaceuticals
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