Astrazeneca Launches A Smarter Approach To Asthma Management In Europe

AstraZeneca today announced that 37 countries to date have received approval of Symbicort® Maintenance And Reliever Therapy (Symbicort SMART®), and that a period of world wide launches will now be initiated. This new, smarter approach to asthma is the first to provide patients with both asthma maintenance and reliever therapy together in just one inhaler.

With the Symbicort SMART management approach, patients receive inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long acting bronchodilator (LABA) with every inhalation. Thus, with Symbicort SMART it is possible to treat the underlying inflammation with every inhalation, even when used for rapid symptom relief, making it a more effective way to manage asthma. A separate SABA (short acting bronchodilator) inhaler is therefore no longer needed. Symbicort SMART has been proven to reduce exacerbations by 39% compared with salmeterol / fluticasone combination and a separate reliever medication.1

The Symbicort SMART treatment approach is possible only because Symbicort combines two components in one inhaler: budesonide, an ICS to provide an anti-inflammatory effect in the airways, and formoterol, a unique bronchodilator that is both rapid in effect and long lasting (LABA). The other LABA available for maintenance treatment of asthma, salmeterol, does not have the properties that enables it to be used in this way. Consequently, Seretide™ (salmeterol/fluticasone) can not be used in the same way as Symbicort SMART. Patients on Symbicort SMART receive a maintenance dose in line with normal practice to establish asthma control and can then take additional inhalations 'as needed' if symptoms occur, to provide both rapid symptom relief and increased asthma control in the longer term.

"We know that patients tend to over-rely on their symptom relief inhaler when experiencing a worsening of their symptoms," comments Professor Claus Vogelmeier, Professor of Medicine and Head of Pulmonary Division, Marburg University Hospital Germany, and speaker at the official Symbicort SMART launch event in Lund. "Although patients consistently adjust their medication in response to asthma variations, often the adjustment in maintenance therapy is delayed in response to an exacerbation. With Symbicort SMART, physicians can be sure that patients are receiving their anti-inflammatory treatment with every inhalation, ensuring their asthma is better controlled."

The Symbicort SMART approach is recognised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) who recently announced revised international treatment guidelines on best practice in the prevention and treatment of asthma. The guidelines support the need for a new management approach - Symbicort SMART.2

"Previous editions of the GINA Guidelines have perhaps led to an impression that mild asthma could be equated to mild symptoms and severe asthma to severe symptoms, which we know is not the case," comments Dr Paul O'Byrne, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada and Chair of the GINA Executive Committee. "Asthma is a variable disease and the GINA Committee felt that a treatment approach based upon effective control of symptoms and exacerbations would better reflect the natural course of the disease. The result will be improved outcomes by allowing treatment to be rapidly increased when symptoms first appear and then brought back down again when control is achieved, and thus let the dosing respond quickly to the patients' asthma control status."

Symbicort SMART has been tested extensively in a wide clinical trial program involving over 14,000 patients with persistent asthma. These studies consistently show that Symbicort SMART, irrespective of asthma severity, reduces the risk of patients developing potentially life-threatening asthma attacks compared with traditional treatment approaches such as fixed dosing with either higher doses of ICS plus a short-acting bronchodilator (SABA) or with an ICS/LABA combination therapy plus a SABA. 1, 3-7

In the EU, Symbicort SMART is licensed for use in adults with a need for ICS / LABA combination treatment. National launches are expected throughout the EU over the coming months.

"We are delighted to announce the launch of Symbicort SMART in Europe," said Dr John Patterson, Executive Director, Development for AstraZeneca. "This new treatment approach will simplify asthma management and has the potential to improve the lives of a great many asthma patients. We now have a management approach that provides the reassurance of instant relief when needed and in the same breath treats the underlying disease for the long term. This is a significant step forward for asthma patients."

To date, Symbicort has been effectively and widely used as a traditional maintenance treatment for asthmatics across the world. With the advent of today's launch of Symbicort SMART, Symbicort is the first maintenance therapy to als

o be proven effective and licensed for maintenance and reliever therapy in one inhaler. AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $26.47 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

For further updates, news and information on Symbicort, please visit
http://www.astrazenecapressoffice.com

References

1. Kuna P, Peters MJ, Buhl R. Budesonide/formoterol as maintenance and reliever therapy reduces asthma exacerbations versus a higher maintenance dose of budesonide/formoterol or salmeterol/fluticasone. Abstract presented at the ERS Congress 2006.

2. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). GINA Report, Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, published November 2006. www.ginasthma.com

3. Rabe K, Atienza T, Magyar P et al. Reduction in asthma exacerbations with budesonide in combination with formoterol for reliever therapy: a randomised, controlled, double-blind study. Lancet 2006;368: 744-53.

4. Vogelmeier C, D'Urzo A, Pauwels R, Merino JM, Jaspal M, Boutet S, Naya I, Price D. Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy: an effective asthma treatment option? Eur Respir J 2005; 26(5): 819-828.

5. O'Byrne P, Bisgaard H, Godard P, Pistolesi M, Palmqvist M, Zhu Y, Ekström T, Bateman E. Budesonide/Formoterol Combination Therapy as Both Maintenance and Reliever Medication in Asthma. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2005; 171(2): 129-136.

6. Scicchitano R, Aalbers R, Ukena D, Manjra A, Fouquert L, Centanni S, Boulet L-P, Naya IP, Hultquist C. Efficacy and safety of budesonide/formoterol single inhaler therapy versus a higher dose of budesonide in moderate to severe asthma. Current Medical Research and Opinion 2004;20(9):1403-18.

7. Klaus F. Rabe, Emilio Pizzichini, Björn Ställberg, Santiago Romero, Ana M. Balanzat, Tito Atienza, Per Arve Lier, and Carin Jorup, Budesonide/Formoterol in a Single Inhaler for Maintenance and Relief in Mild-to-Moderate Asthma: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial, Chest, Feb 2006; 129: 246 - 256

Symbicort SMART -- Symbicort SMART improves daily symptom control and reduces asthma attacks while patients only need one inhaler*. A separate short-acting bronchodilator is no longer needed. Patients prescribed Symbicort SMART, take a maintenance dose of Symbicort every day in line with normal practice to establish asthma control and take additional inhalations 'as needed' of Symbicort if symptoms occur, to provide both rapid symptom relief and improved asthma control. *not indicated for prophylactic use before exercise

-- Symbicort SMART successfully completed the European Union Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) in October 2006

-- Symbicort SMART is currently approved in 37 countries worldwide

-- Symbicort is currently approved in more than 90 countries; sales were $585 million in the first half 2006 (up 24 percent on 2005 figures) and have now reached more than five million treatment years

-- Symbicort received FDA approval in the US in July 2006 for maintenance treatment of asthma (in patients from 12 years of age)

Asthma -- Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways characterised by reversible airway obstruction. It is a variable condition that can change both daily and seasonally

-- Most asthma patients require maintenance treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), which suppresses the underlying airway inflammation, and a bronchodilator, which relaxes the smooth muscle of the airways.

Respiratory Research About To Experience Influx Of Talented Young Scientists, UK

The field of respiratory research is about to experience an influx of talented young scientists. Twenty-one PhD students will soon begin research projects that address the role of factors as diverse as fungi, viral infection, immune system reactions and the influence of maternal diet on the serious respiratory disorders asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions.

The research awards have been made in response to the growing number of people in the UK who suffer from respiratory disease. The medical research charities Asthma UK, the British Lung Foundation and the British Thoracic Society (with the Morriston Davies Trust) have joined together with the Medical Research Council to fund the studentships.

They hope that by encouraging young scientists to study conditions that affect the respiratory system, there will be a greater capacity to develop treatments and knowledge of these illnesses in the future.

The funding collaboration was prompted by the report of a workshop attended by clinicians, scientists, research charities and other research funders in October 2005. The report reviewed the current standing and future of respiratory medicine research in the UK.

Professor Stephen Holgate, Chair of the UK Respiratory Research Strategy Committee, said: "More and more people in the UK are becoming ill as a result of respiratory conditions. Two major disease areas, lung cancer and lung fibrosis, were still under-represented in the research applications but this simply highlights why it is so important that we encourage young scientists to begin their careers in respiratory research, build their knowledge and find out more about how and why these conditions are on the rise so that we can offer effective treatments in the future. All of the funding partners believe the collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen respiratory research."

Twelve awards will be available in 2007 and a further nine in 2008. Students all over the UK will carry out a three or four year research project and receive training in research methods and key personal skills. The first awards have been made to scientists in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Southampton, Manchester, Nottingham, Leicester, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield and London.

http://www.asthma.org.uk

The Future Of Asthma Research

Asthma UK and the Royal Society of Medicine are offering people with asthma a unique opportunity to influence the future of asthma research.

Medicine and Me: Asthma Research will bring people with asthma, their families and carers, together with researchers and health professionals to exchange their views on the key challenges in basic asthma research.

The event aims to make science more accessible to people with asthma and ensure the strategy reflects their needs. It takes place on 19 February at the Royal Society of Medicine, London. Supported by AstraZeneca, it will include a mix of presentations and discussions, followed by an evening reception.

Medicine and Me: Asthma Research follows the hugely successful event, Medicine and Me: Asthma, which was held in 2004. It aims to provide a platform for Asthma UK to discuss its five-year Basic Asthma Research Strategy update (BARS II). The strategy was written after extensive consultation with expert asthma researchers and people with asthma over the last year and it is hoped this dialogue will have a direct impact on future research strategies.

The key areas identified in asthma research to be explored at the event are:

-- Genetics
-- Early Life and Environment
-- Immunology and Infection
-- Inflammation and Airway remodelling

People with asthma and researchers will discuss their views on how research can progress towards Asthma UK's vision of "control over asthma today, freedom from asthma tomorrow".

Donna Covey, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, said: "This is an excellent way to make medical science more accessible to people with asthma and help researchers understand the needs of people with asthma too. Asthma UK continues to increase the understanding of asthma, its causes and effects, and raise awareness of the needs of the 5.2 million people living with asthma."

Professor Tak Lee, Asthma UK Professor and Director of the MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, chaired the BARS II consultation on behalf of Asthma UK said: "The key questions that have to be addressed to find a cure for asthma have now been identified. It is essential for funders to provide adequate support to researchers so these critical questions can be answered."

http://www.asthma.org.uk

EU Prioritises Allergic Diseases In The Seventh Framework Programme For Research

GAВІLEN welcomes the vote of the European Parliament on the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) on 30 November that acknowledges allergic diseases as major chronic diseases to be addressed in European research during the coming 7 years (2007 - 2013).

The European Parliament adopted the report of Prof. Jerzy Buzek that recognises “respiratory diseases including those induced by allergies” as health priorities to be addressed by translational research. This will allow respiratory allergic diseases (including asthma) to be covered by the research programme under the health theme.

In the first drafts, only food allergies (8% of all allergies) were covered. Allergic diseases will now be tackled under both the health and food themes of the research programme which should allow scientists to progress towards the overall understanding that is needed to help control this epidemic through effective prevention and treatment.

“Allergic diseases” in all their different aspects - from hay fever to fatal attacks of asthma or reactions to peanuts - are taking lives daily and creating huge financial costs. According to the World Health Organization, asthma kills someone in Europe every hour. One child in three is allergic today and by 2015, half of the European population may be suffering from one or more allergic condition.

The European Union’s next research programme known as the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) begins on 1st January 2007 and will run for seven years until 2013 with a total budget of €54.6 billion.

GA²LEN - the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network is a “Network of Excellence” funded by the European Union 6th Research Framework Programme (FP6). It consists of 26 research centres spread throughout Europe, as well as the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA). Close to 50 collaborating centres have joined the network since its launch in 2004.

http://www.ga2len.net

World Health Report 2003, “Shaping the Future”. World Health Organization

Vietnam Study Probes The Role Of Gut Worms In Allergies

Gut parasites could hold the key to increasingly common conditions such as eczema, asthma and hay fever, according to scientists at The University of Nottingham.

Gut parasites, such as hookworm, have evolved together with their human hosts for millions of years. Over time, these parasites have developed ways of surviving in the human gut by 'turning down' the immune response directed against them, prolonging their survival inside the host.

This reduction in immune response may also have the effect of reducing allergic tissue reactions that characterise asthma and other allergic conditions.

The latest study in this area of research is led by Dr Carsten Flohr, a clinical scientist from The University of Nottingham and Dr Luc Nguyen Tuyen, from the Khanh Hoa Provincial Health Service in central Vietnam. This work was supported through research grants from Asthma UK, the Bastow Award from the Special Trustees for Nottingham University Hospitals and a Fellowship from University College, University of Oxford.

Dr Flohr has examined the links between worms and allergic diseases in Vietnamese children and found that those with the highest level of hookworm infestation were the least likely to have an allergic response to house dust mites.

These findings support the hypothesis that gastrointestinal infection with either hookworms or other micro-organisms protects against allergy and add further weight to the so-called вЂ˜hygiene hypothesis’.

Dr Lyn Smurthwaite, Research Development Manager for Asthma UK said: “The вЂ˜hygiene hypothesis’ suggests that high rates of allergies and asthma in developed countries are a result of our immune systems becoming unbalanced due to improved sanitation and hygienic lifestyles that no longer expose us to the same array of bacteria, viruses or parasites. We look forward to future results in this area.”

The study involved 1,600 children aged six to 18, in four neighbouring rural communities in Khanh Hoa province, central Vietnam. Their lifestyles were studied, along with their sensitivity to common allergens and their level of infestation with hookworm and other parasites.

Following on from the study just reported online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr Flohr and his colleagues in Vietnam have conducted an intervention study in the same population during which they regularly de-wormed schoolchildren to see whether this increased the prevalence of allergic diseases. This second study is now coming to a close and the results will be published early next year.

Dr Flohr said: “The results from such an intervention study will allow us to draw firmer conclusions as to whether gut worm infestation truly protects against allergic disease and sensitisation.”

Co-applicants on the Asthma UK research grant that is funding the work were Professors John Britton, David Pritchard, and Hywel Williams. The Nottingham team is collaborating with researchers from the Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, where Dr Flohr has been based for his field work.

The University of Nottingham is leading the way in the investigation of links between hookworm infestation вЂ" or lack of it вЂ" and human illness. Two further currently ongoing trials are looking at the possibility that hookworm infection may alleviate symptoms of hay fever and Crohn’s Disease.

If these studies show positive results, future drugs that mimic the immunological effects of hookworm infection could provide promising therapeutic options for patients with allergic and other autoimmune diseases.

The University of Nottingham is Britain's University of the Year (The Times Higher Awards 2006). It undertakes world-changing research, provides innovative teaching and a student experience of the highest quality. Ranked by Newsweek in the world's Top 75 universities, its academics have won two Nobel Prizes since 2003. The University is an international institution with campuses in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and China.

Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. It works together with people with asthma, health professionals and researchers to develop and share expertise to help people increase their understanding and reduce the effect of asthma on their lives.

The University of Nottingham

Use Of Corticosteroid Inhalers For The Treatment Of Asthma And COPD To Increase

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the use of corticosteroid inhalers will increase for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"Despite their criticisms of primary care physicians' use of inhaled corticosteroids, 39% of pulmonologists forecast that they will increase their use of these agents for treating COPD, presumably in large part because of the results of the TORCH study," said Decision Resources analyst Madhuri Borde, Ph.D. "For the treatment of asthma, physicians and experts concur that, over the next two years, they will likely increase their use of single-agent corticosteroid inhalers. Single-agent inhalers are becoming seen as the most appropriate first-line agent, though Advair use in this segment will continue to increase as well."

The findings come from two new reports from Decision Resources: Treatment Algorithms in Asthma and Treatment Algorithms in COPD. Information from the reports will be presented in a webinar on January 17th entitled "Using Patient-Level Data to Quantify Lines of Therapy within the Asthma and COPD Markets." For more information on how to attend the webinar, please contact Liz Marshall of Decision Resources at 781-296-2563.

About Treatment Algorithm Insight Series

Decision Resources combines in-depth primary research with the most extensive claims-based longitudinal patient-level data from PharMetrics(R) to provide exceptional insight into physicians' prescribing trends and the factors that drive therapy product choice, from diagnosis through multiple courses of treatment, for a specific disease.

For each disease examined, Decision Resources' Treatment Algorithm Insight Series provide the following:

-- Summary of U.S. medical practice based on interviews with leading experts in the field

-- Qualitative diagnosis/referral/treatment algorithm for the United States

-- Drug usage by lines of therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line)

-- Discussion of key freeform combinations by lines of therapy

-- Product share (class and specific compound level) within each line of therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line)

-- Progression of therapy from key 1st line products

-- Pathway to key therapies from previous therapies

-- Qualitative analysis of two-year forecast incorporating upcoming launches, changes in reimbursement, etc.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (http://www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in healthcare market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Decision Resources, Inc.
http://www.decisionresources.com

Asthma Sufferers Favor Quick Relief Over Long-term Control

People who currently have asthma are much more likely to rely on drugs that offer quick relief for symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing, than medications for long-term control, according to the latest News and Numbers issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Approximately 31 percent of sufferers say that they use quick-relief medications to control symptoms of asthma, compared with about 14 percent who rely on longer-term preventive medicines for control. Another 31 percent use both types of medications and 24 percent use none.

The federal study further found that among people whose asthma was active when surveyed:

More than one-fourth reported having a peak flow meter at home for measuring their ability to expel air from their lungs.

Nearly half (48 percent) of adults said they had at least one asthma attack within the previous 12 months.

Women were more likely to have asthma attacks than men 50 percent versus 40 percent

AHRQ, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, works to improve the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of health care in the United States. The data in this AHRQ News and Numbers comes from the Agency's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a highly detailed source of information on the health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of these services, and how they are paid.

For more information on this AHRQ News and Numbers see Asthma Treatment and Management among the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2004,MEPS Statistical Brief # 152.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
540 Gaither Rd.
Rockville, MD 20850
United States
http://www.ahrq.gov/

Asthma Blog Carnival

Registered Nurses posted at http://arizonajobsandemployment.com

Allergic Asthma Treatment posted at http://www.allergyabc.com/blog

benefits of correct breathing posted at http://www.asthmacare.ie/blog

hyperventilation chronic or acute? posted at http://www.asthmacare.ie/blog

Use Of Corticosteroid Inhalers For The Treatment Of Asthma And COPD To Increase

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the use of corticosteroid inhalers will increase for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"Despite their criticisms of primary care physicians' use of inhaled corticosteroids, 39% of pulmonologists forecast that they will increase their use of these agents for treating COPD, presumably in large part because of the results of the TORCH study," said Decision Resources analyst Madhuri Borde, Ph.D. "For the treatment of asthma, physicians and experts concur that, over the next two years, they will likely increase their use of single-agent corticosteroid inhalers. Single-agent inhalers are becoming seen as the most appropriate first-line agent, though Advair use in this segment will continue to increase as well."

The findings come from two new reports from Decision Resources: Treatment Algorithms in Asthma and Treatment Algorithms in COPD. Information from the reports will be presented in a webinar on January 17th entitled "Using Patient-Level Data to Quantify Lines of Therapy within the Asthma and COPD Markets." For more information on how to attend the webinar, please contact Liz Marshall of Decision Resources at 781-296-2563.

About Treatment Algorithm Insight Series

Decision Resources combines in-depth primary research with the most extensive claims-based longitudinal patient-level data from PharMetrics(R) to provide exceptional insight into physicians' prescribing trends and the factors that drive therapy product choice, from diagnosis through multiple courses of treatment, for a specific disease.

For each disease examined, Decision Resources' Treatment Algorithm Insight Series provide the following:

-- Summary of U.S. medical practice based on interviews with leading experts in the field

-- Qualitative diagnosis/referral/treatment algorithm for the United States

-- Drug usage by lines of therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line)

-- Discussion of key freeform combinations by lines of therapy

-- Product share (class and specific compound level) within each line of therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line)

-- Progression of therapy from key 1st line products

-- Pathway to key therapies from previous therapies

-- Qualitative analysis of two-year forecast incorporating upcoming launches, changes in reimbursement, etc.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (http://www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in healthcare market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Decision Resources, Inc.
http://www.decisionresources.com

Asthma Sufferers Favor Quick Relief Over Long-term Control

People who currently have asthma are much more likely to rely on drugs that offer quick relief for symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing, than medications for long-term control, according to the latest News and Numbers issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Approximately 31 percent of sufferers say that they use quick-relief medications to control symptoms of asthma, compared with about 14 percent who rely on longer-term preventive medicines for control. Another 31 percent use both types of medications and 24 percent use none.

The federal study further found that among people whose asthma was active when surveyed:

More than one-fourth reported having a peak flow meter at home for measuring their ability to expel air from their lungs.

Nearly half (48 percent) of adults said they had at least one asthma attack within the previous 12 months.

Women were more likely to have asthma attacks than men 50 percent versus 40 percent

AHRQ, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, works to improve the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of health care in the United States. The data in this AHRQ News and Numbers comes from the Agency's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a highly detailed source of information on the health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of these services, and how they are paid.

For more information on this AHRQ News and Numbers see Asthma Treatment and Management among the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2004,MEPS Statistical Brief # 152.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
540 Gaither Rd.
Rockville, MD 20850
United States
http://www.ahrq.gov/

Life Enhancing Drug Denied To People With Asthma In Scotland

People living with severe asthma in Scotland look set to be denied access to a potentially life enhancing treatment today.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), which advises NHSScotland on new treatments, is expected to issue advice against Xolair on the grounds of cost.

Asthma UK Chief Executive Donna Covey said: 'Xolair has been proved to be safe and effective and to transform people's lives. For people with difficult to control asthma who can't get their symptoms under control with existing drugs, Xolair offers the possibility of living free from the fear of a severe asthma attack.

'One in ten people in Scotland with severe asthma symptoms say that once a week they have an asthma attack so severe they cannot speak. One in five is seriously concerned that the next asthma attack will kill them. This drug is the only hope that some people currently have, and to take it away from them on the grounds of cost is unjust and inhumane.

'We estimate the treatment of asthma across the UK costs the NHS about ВЈ889 million a year, to say nothing of the emotional cost to people with asthma and their families. Caring for people after an asthma attack costs the NHS 3.5 times more than caring for those whose asthma is well managed.'

Xolair was licensed for use in the UK in 2005 and is given as an 'add-on therapy' in a fortnightly injection for people with asthma that is severe, persistent and allergic. People with this type of asthma may find it so debilitating that they are unable to work or do normal things such as climbing the stairs, gardening or housework.

Maria Murray of Asirus, a support group for people with asthma in rural Scotland said: 'People living in rural areas can take hours to get to hospital following an attack and by the time the ambulance reaches them, it may be too late. We're not asking for this drug to be made available to everyone but if it can make a difference to a select group of people then surely that is worth the cost?'

While Xolair will not be available in Scotland, Asthma UK will continue to campaign for people with asthma who would benefit from Xolair. The situation in England and Wales depends on the decision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which is due to announce its decision later this year.

1. 390,000 people in Scotland are currently receiving treatment for asthma (1 in 13) and 197,000 of these have severe asthma symptoms

2. Omalizumab (Xolair) is the first in a new generation of drugs for allergic asthma. People with severe allergic asthma often have an immune system that is overactive. Xolair helps balance the immune system by bringing down levels of the antibody immunoglobulin (IgE).

3. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the 5.2million people with asthma in the UK. Asthma UK works with people with asthma, healthcare professionals and researchers to develop and share expertise to help people increase their understanding and reduce the effect of asthma on their lives.

Visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk

The Effect Of Sodium Intake On Asthma

Dr Lyn Smurthwaite, Research Development Manager at Asthma UK comments: 'Reducing salt in our diets is thought to be beneficial for many reasons and the possibility that it may improve asthma symptoms is something Asthma UK is keen to explore. We are delighted to be currently funding a trial by Dr Fogarty into the longer-term effects of a reduced salt diet on asthma symptoms.

'For several reasons previous research has shown that eating lots of fresh foods can help to reduce symptoms in some people with asthma and we also know that many processed foods contain high levels of salt. With this in mind we would encourage people with asthma to eat a healthy diet of fresh foods that are likely to contain lower levels of salt.'

Visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk

Asthma UK Provides Helping Hand For Pharmacists

Asthma UK is to launch a new resource pack in January to support community pharmacists in England and Wales in helping people with asthma to have a better understanding of their medicines.

The pack, produced in association with PSNC and MIMS, will provide information and advice for pharmacists undertaking Medicine Use Reviews for people with asthma as well as helping people with asthma to understand their medicines. The resource pack will also help to identify any problems they are experiencing, offering possible solutions and includes a supporting leaflet on 'Advice from your pharmacist'.

Over 10,700 packs will be issued to pharmacies throughout England and Wales along with 75,000 leaflets, which will also be available in Welsh. Inhaler technique, asthma medicines and symptoms and triggers as well as advice on what to do in the event of an asthma attack are amongst the key topics explained.

Simon Selo, Assistant Director, Service Development at Asthma UK comments: 'People with asthma have told us that they find MURs incredibly helpful in understanding and managing their asthma more effectively. We hope this pack will both encourage and support community pharmacists to undertake more reviews in the future and encourage people with asthma to seek advice about their condition from their local pharmacist.'

Alastair Buxton, Head of NHS Services at PSNC added: 'We are very pleased to have worked with Asthma UK on the development of this pack. MURs make a big difference to people with asthma, helping them manage their medicines more effectively.'

The packs will be distributed by PSNC to pharmacies in mid January. Most packs will be mailed direct to pharmacies, but some multiple chains will receive bulk deliveries which will then be distributed by internal mail systems.

The 'Advice from your pharmacist' leaflet is to be given prior to the MUR.

Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK who have asthma. We work with people with asthma, healthcare professionals and researchers to develop and share expertise to help people increase their understanding and reduce the effect of asthma on their lives.

Visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk

Low-Dose Aspirin Lowers Risk Of Asthma Diagnosis

In a large, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 22,071 healthy male physicians, taking a low-dose of aspirin every other day lowered the risk of receiving an initial asthma diagnosis by 22 percent.

These findings, based on data from the double-blind Physicians' Health Study, appear in the second issue for January 2007 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published by the American Thoracic Society.

Tobias Kurth, M.D., Sc.D., of the Division of Aging at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts, and five associates studied physicians, ages 40 to 84, over a period of 4.9 years. Among the 11,037 individuals who took aspirin, 113 new cases of asthma were diagnosed, as contrasted to 145 in the placebo group.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes potentially reversible obstructive lung problems. Breathing difficulties from asthma usually occur during "attacks," which involve narrowing of the airways, swelling of the lining, tightening of respiratory muscles and an increased secretion of mucus. In 2004, more than 20 million Americans were estimated to have asthma.

"Aspirin reduced the risk by 22 percent of newly-diagnosed adult-onset asthma," said Dr. Kurth. "These results suggest that aspirin may reduce the development of asthma in adults. They do not imply that aspirin improves symptoms in patients with asthma."

"Indeed, asthma can cause severe bronchospasm in some patients who have asthma," he continued. "Because asthma was not the primary endpoint of the U. S. Public Health Service study, additional randomized trials would be helpful to confirm the apparent reduction in asthma incidence caused by aspirin."

The Physicians Health Study, which began in 1982, was terminated after 4.9 years when results showed a 44-percent reduction in the risk of a first heart attack among those randomly assigned to aspirin.

"Physicians could self-report an asthma diagnosis on questionnaires at baseline, at six months and annually thereafter," said Dr. Kurth. "Asthma was not the original deductive endpoint of the trial."

According to the authors, the 22-percent lower risk of newly-diagnosed asthma among those assigned to the low-dose aspirin group was not affected by participant characteristics like smoking, body mass index or age.

They noted that aspirin-intolerant asthma, a problem in which aspirin exacerbates the disease, affects only a small minority of asthma patients. In three large population-based studies, that difficulty affected only four to 11 percent of the groups. In children, however, the proportion affected by aspirin intolerant asthma was significantly smaller.

###

Contact: Suzy Martin
American Thoracic Society

Inhaled Steroids Best Treatment For Children With Asthma

Although several medications are available to help children maintain asthma control, clinical trials directly comparing them have not been conducted. In fact, current recommendations in national and international asthma guidelines are based either on studies of single treatments compared to a placebo in children or on comparison studies in adults.

For the first time, researchers compared the effectiveness and safety of three different asthma medicines for initial daily therapy for school-aged children with mild to moderate persistent asthma: a low dose inhaled corticosteroid (200 mcg fluticasone a day); a combination of a lower dose inhaled corticosteroid and an inhaled long acting beta2 agonist (100 mcg fluticasone each morning plus 50mcg salmeterol twice daily), and a leukotriene receptor antagonist (montelukast). Studying 285 children ages 6 - 14 years, researchers in the Childhood Asthma Research and Education Network of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) found that after 48 weeks, inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective initial daily therapy for children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. They also found no significant adverse growth effects among any of the medicines studied.

"Long-term comparison of 3 controller regimens for mild-moderate persistent childhood asthma: The Pediatric Asthma Controller Trial," is published in this month's issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). These results support the current asthma clinical guidelines, which recommend inhaled corticosteroids as the preferred initial therapy for children with mild to moderate asthma.

###

The theme of the January issue of the journal is National Institutes of Health asthma networks. The issue features review articles on several NHLBI programs - the Asthma Clinical Research Network, the Childhood Asthma Research and Education Network, the Childhood Asthma Management Program, and the Severe Asthma Research Program - as well as the Asthma and Allergic Diseases Research Centers and the Inner City Asthma Consortium of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

For more information:

* Asthma Information for Patients and the General Public

* Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma--Update on Selected Topics 2002

* Childhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) Network

* Inhaled Corticosteroids Benefit Young Children with Frequent Wheezing but Do Not Prevent Development of Chronic Asthma, May 10, 2006, news release

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov/.

Contact: NHLBI Communications Office
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Uncontrolled Exercise-Induced Asthma Limits Physical Activity

People with exercise-induced asthma (EIA) may not be able to participate in physical activities if it is not properly controlled, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

About 20 million Americans suffer from asthma. In addition, many non- asthmatic patients, up to 13% of the population, experience asthma symptoms with exercise.

"If someone is experiencing symptoms of EIA, it is important for them to be properly diagnosed by an allergist/immunologist to make sure it is not something more serious," said Tim Craig, DO, FAAAAI, Chair of the AAAAI's Sports Medicine Committee. "The physician will be able to treat the patient's EIA with proper medications and will also address other issues to ensure the person can participate in sports and exercise to their fullest capacity."

EIA is caused by airways that are overly sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and humidity, especially when breathing colder, drier air. During physical activity, people tend to breathe through their mouths, allowing the cold, dry air to reach the lower airways without passing through the warming, humidifying effect of the nose.

Symptoms of EIA include wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. These symptoms can be controlled with proper medication and guidance from an allergist/immunologist.

Inhaled medications taken prior to exercise are helpful in controlling and preventing exercise-induced bronchospasm. The medication of choice in preventing EIA symptoms is a short-acting beta 2 agonist bronchodilator spray used 15 minutes before exercise. These medications are effective in 80 to 90 percent of patients, have a rapid onset of action, and last for up to four to six hours. These drugs can also be used to relieve symptoms associated with EIA after they occur.

In addition to medications, a warm-up period of activity before exercise may lessen the chest tightness that occurs after exertion. A warm-down period, including stretching and jogging after strenuous activity, may prevent air in the lungs from changing rapidly from cold to warm, and may prevent EIA symptoms that occur after exercise.

When to see an allergy/asthma specialist

The AAAAI's How the Allergist/Immunologist Can Help: Consultation and Referral Guidelines Citing the Evidence provides information to assist patients and health care professionals in determining when a patient may need consultation or ongoing specialty care by the allergist/immunologist. Patients should see an allergist/immunologist if they:

-- Have exercise-induced symptoms that are unusual or do not respond well to pre-treatment with albuterol, nedocromil, or cromolyn.

-- Have had exercise-induced anaphylaxis or food-dependent exercise- induced anaphylaxis.

-- Want to SCUBA dive and have a history of asthma.

If you believe you may have EIA or have been diagnosed with EIA, talk to your allergist/immunologist about a personalized management plan for your EIA and begin exercising again. Many asthmatics have found that with proper medical treatment, they are able to reduce the symptoms of EIA.

To find an allergist/immunologist in your area or to learn more about allergies and asthma visit the AAAAI Web site at http://www.aaaai.org.

The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,000 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information through its Web site at http://www.aaaai.org.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
http://www.aaaai.org

Astrazeneca Launches A Smarter Approach To Asthma Management In Europe

AstraZeneca today announced that 37 countries to date have received approval of Symbicort® Maintenance And Reliever Therapy (Symbicort SMART®), and that a period of world wide launches will now be initiated. This new, smarter approach to asthma is the first to provide patients with both asthma maintenance and reliever therapy together in just one inhaler.

With the Symbicort SMART management approach, patients receive inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long acting bronchodilator (LABA) with every inhalation. Thus, with Symbicort SMART it is possible to treat the underlying inflammation with every inhalation, even when used for rapid symptom relief, making it a more effective way to manage asthma. A separate SABA (short acting bronchodilator) inhaler is therefore no longer needed. Symbicort SMART has been proven to reduce exacerbations by 39% compared with salmeterol / fluticasone combination and a separate reliever medication.1

The Symbicort SMART treatment approach is possible only because Symbicort combines two components in one inhaler: budesonide, an ICS to provide an anti-inflammatory effect in the airways, and formoterol, a unique bronchodilator that is both rapid in effect and long lasting (LABA). The other LABA available for maintenance treatment of asthma, salmeterol, does not have the properties that enables it to be used in this way. Consequently, Seretide™ (salmeterol/fluticasone) can not be used in the same way as Symbicort SMART. Patients on Symbicort SMART receive a maintenance dose in line with normal practice to establish asthma control and can then take additional inhalations 'as needed' if symptoms occur, to provide both rapid symptom relief and increased asthma control in the longer term.

"We know that patients tend to over-rely on their symptom relief inhaler when experiencing a worsening of their symptoms," comments Professor Claus Vogelmeier, Professor of Medicine and Head of Pulmonary Division, Marburg University Hospital Germany, and speaker at the official Symbicort SMART launch event in Lund. "Although patients consistently adjust their medication in response to asthma variations, often the adjustment in maintenance therapy is delayed in response to an exacerbation. With Symbicort SMART, physicians can be sure that patients are receiving their anti-inflammatory treatment with every inhalation, ensuring their asthma is better controlled."

The Symbicort SMART approach is recognised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) who recently announced revised international treatment guidelines on best practice in the prevention and treatment of asthma. The guidelines support the need for a new management approach - Symbicort SMART.2

"Previous editions of the GINA Guidelines have perhaps led to an impression that mild asthma could be equated to mild symptoms and severe asthma to severe symptoms, which we know is not the case," comments Dr Paul O'Byrne, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada and Chair of the GINA Executive Committee. "Asthma is a variable disease and the GINA Committee felt that a treatment approach based upon effective control of symptoms and exacerbations would better reflect the natural course of the disease. The result will be improved outcomes by allowing treatment to be rapidly increased when symptoms first appear and then brought back down again when control is achieved, and thus let the dosing respond quickly to the patients' asthma control status."

Symbicort SMART has been tested extensively in a wide clinical trial program involving over 14,000 patients with persistent asthma. These studies consistently show that Symbicort SMART, irrespective of asthma severity, reduces the risk of patients developing potentially life-threatening asthma attacks compared with traditional treatment approaches such as fixed dosing with either higher doses of ICS plus a short-acting bronchodilator (SABA) or with an ICS/LABA combination therapy plus a SABA. 1, 3-7

In the EU, Symbicort SMART is licensed for use in adults with a need for ICS / LABA combination treatment. National launches are expected throughout the EU over the coming months.

"We are delighted to announce the launch of Symbicort SMART in Europe," said Dr John Patterson, Executive Director, Development for AstraZeneca. "This new treatment approach will simplify asthma management and has the potential to improve the lives of a great many asthma patients. We now have a management approach that provides the reassurance of instant relief when needed and in the same breath treats the underlying disease for the long term. This is a significant step forward for asthma patients."

To date, Symbicort has been effectively and widely used as a traditional maintenance treatment for asthmatics across the world. With the advent of today's launch of Symbicort SMART, Symbicort is the first maintenance therapy to als

o be proven effective and licensed for maintenance and reliever therapy in one inhaler. AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $26.47 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

For further updates, news and information on Symbicort, please visit
http://www.astrazenecapressoffice.com

References

1. Kuna P, Peters MJ, Buhl R. Budesonide/formoterol as maintenance and reliever therapy reduces asthma exacerbations versus a higher maintenance dose of budesonide/formoterol or salmeterol/fluticasone. Abstract presented at the ERS Congress 2006.

2. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). GINA Report, Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, published November 2006. www.ginasthma.com

3. Rabe K, Atienza T, Magyar P et al. Reduction in asthma exacerbations with budesonide in combination with formoterol for reliever therapy: a randomised, controlled, double-blind study. Lancet 2006;368: 744-53.

4. Vogelmeier C, D'Urzo A, Pauwels R, Merino JM, Jaspal M, Boutet S, Naya I, Price D. Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy: an effective asthma treatment option? Eur Respir J 2005; 26(5): 819-828.

5. O'Byrne P, Bisgaard H, Godard P, Pistolesi M, Palmqvist M, Zhu Y, Ekström T, Bateman E. Budesonide/Formoterol Combination Therapy as Both Maintenance and Reliever Medication in Asthma. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2005; 171(2): 129-136.

6. Scicchitano R, Aalbers R, Ukena D, Manjra A, Fouquert L, Centanni S, Boulet L-P, Naya IP, Hultquist C. Efficacy and safety of budesonide/formoterol single inhaler therapy versus a higher dose of budesonide in moderate to severe asthma. Current Medical Research and Opinion 2004;20(9):1403-18.

7. Klaus F. Rabe, Emilio Pizzichini, Björn Ställberg, Santiago Romero, Ana M. Balanzat, Tito Atienza, Per Arve Lier, and Carin Jorup, Budesonide/Formoterol in a Single Inhaler for Maintenance and Relief in Mild-to-Moderate Asthma: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial, Chest, Feb 2006; 129: 246 - 256

Symbicort SMART -- Symbicort SMART improves daily symptom control and reduces asthma attacks while patients only need one inhaler*. A separate short-acting bronchodilator is no longer needed. Patients prescribed Symbicort SMART, take a maintenance dose of Symbicort every day in line with normal practice to establish asthma control and take additional inhalations 'as needed' of Symbicort if symptoms occur, to provide both rapid symptom relief and improved asthma control. *not indicated for prophylactic use before exercise

-- Symbicort SMART successfully completed the European Union Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) in October 2006

-- Symbicort SMART is currently approved in 37 countries worldwide

-- Symbicort is currently approved in more than 90 countries; sales were $585 million in the first half 2006 (up 24 percent on 2005 figures) and have now reached more than five million treatment years

-- Symbicort received FDA approval in the US in July 2006 for maintenance treatment of asthma (in patients from 12 years of age)

Asthma -- Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways characterised by reversible airway obstruction. It is a variable condition that can change both daily and seasonally

-- Most asthma patients require maintenance treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), which suppresses the underlying airway inflammation, and a bronchodilator, which relaxes the smooth muscle of the airways.

Respiratory Research About To Experience Influx Of Talented Young Scientists, UK

The field of respiratory research is about to experience an influx of talented young scientists. Twenty-one PhD students will soon begin research projects that address the role of factors as diverse as fungi, viral infection, immune system reactions and the influence of maternal diet on the serious respiratory disorders asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions.

The research awards have been made in response to the growing number of people in the UK who suffer from respiratory disease. The medical research charities Asthma UK, the British Lung Foundation and the British Thoracic Society (with the Morriston Davies Trust) have joined together with the Medical Research Council to fund the studentships.

They hope that by encouraging young scientists to study conditions that affect the respiratory system, there will be a greater capacity to develop treatments and knowledge of these illnesses in the future.

The funding collaboration was prompted by the report of a workshop attended by clinicians, scientists, research charities and other research funders in October 2005. The report reviewed the current standing and future of respiratory medicine research in the UK.

Professor Stephen Holgate, Chair of the UK Respiratory Research Strategy Committee, said: "More and more people in the UK are becoming ill as a result of respiratory conditions. Two major disease areas, lung cancer and lung fibrosis, were still under-represented in the research applications but this simply highlights why it is so important that we encourage young scientists to begin their careers in respiratory research, build their knowledge and find out more about how and why these conditions are on the rise so that we can offer effective treatments in the future. All of the funding partners believe the collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen respiratory research."

Twelve awards will be available in 2007 and a further nine in 2008. Students all over the UK will carry out a three or four year research project and receive training in research methods and key personal skills. The first awards have been made to scientists in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Southampton, Manchester, Nottingham, Leicester, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield and London.

http://www.asthma.org.uk

Asthma UK Cymru Calls For Greater Government

Asthma UK Cymru has welcomed the consultation on the respiratory strategy published by the Welsh Assembly Government, stating this is a significant step towards improving services for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions in Wales.

However, Asthma UK Cymru is disappointed that the consultation fails to address in detail many key issues affecting people with asthma.

For the 260,000 Welsh people living with this condition, the strategy has the potential to lead to significant improvements to health services and quality of life. Asthma UK Cymru has called on the Wales Assembly Government to work with people with asthma and other respiratory conditions, carers and patient groups to ensure the strategy fully meets their needs.

Nia Jeffreys, National Director of Asthma UK Cymru comments: 'While we welcome the publication of this consultation strategy, our own consultation with people with asthma, their carers and a number of health professionals has identified a number of important areas where the strategy needs to develop in order to be much more relevant and meaningful for people with this serious, widespread but controllable condition.

'We are now putting the emphasis firmly on the Welsh Assembly Government to listen to people with asthma and take action to ensure that their needs are effectively met.'

Asthma UK Cymru's response included seeking the views of people with asthma and their carers including holding three discussion groups, including one with a group of school pupils at a Welsh-speaking school in Cardiff and two with people with asthma and their carers. These groups highlighted that the strategy required development in the following areas:

-- Providing greater detail about the prevalence and severity of asthma in Wales and the pattern of care currently available to people with this condition.

-- Identifying how the Government will involve service users, carers and patient groups in developing the strategy and the action plan required to deliver its aims.

-- Extending the strategy to include childhood and adolescence as it currently focuses on adulthood only.

Asthma UK Cymru now recommends that the Welsh Assembly Government establish a national respiratory forum to include clinicians, service users, carers, patient groups and other professionals such as head teachers, to further develop the respiratory strategy and an implementation plan. The charity proposes that a local respiratory forum should be established in each of the 22 Local Health Boards to drive this work forward.

http://www.asthma.org.uk