Once-a-Day Inhaler for Asthma Approved in Britain

A new treatment for asthma that only requires one-time use per day has been approved in Britain, according to the Daily Mail.

The first once-a-day inhaler for asthma sufferers gives 24-hour help to patients, many of whom are finding it difficult to keep the condition under control. Asthma affects more than five million people in the United Kingdom alone and sufferers range from moderate to severe problems. Up to three out of four of these patients have 'uncontrolled' symptoms despite having only one inhaler to combat an attack and a second to keep the airways open.

Studies show patients find it difficult to follow complicated instructions about when to use different inhalers, and that incorrect use often leads to asthma attacks and the need for hospital treatment. The new drug called Relvar Ellipta is the first to combine a daily dose of a steroid to reduce inflammation and a new type of long-acting beta2 agonist, a drug that dilates the airways. Dr. Dominick Shaw, of Nottingham Respiratory Research Unit, said: "Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are chronic lung diseases that affect millions of people in the UK. They can severely affect a person's ability to lead a normal life."

"Both diseases are associated with attacks - exacerbations of the underlying disease, often triggered by infection, where symptoms worsen, breathing becomes even harder and treatment with high dose oral steroids can be required. People with attacks often require an admission to hospital to treat their disease. The mainstay of treatment for improving symptoms and reducing attacks for both asthma and COPD is inhaled medication; the release of Relvar Ellipta is a welcome addition in the fight against these chronic lung diseases."