Compound Reduces Oral Corticosteroid Use

New data show that an investigational inhaled corticosteroid can significantly reduce the use of oral corticosteroids in adults with severe, persistent asthma while maintaining asthma control. The data were presented at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in San Diego (CA, USA) in May 2005.

Alvesco (ciclesonide) is an inhaled corticosteroid with novel release and distribution properties. Inhaled corticosteroids work by reducing inflammation, the underlying disease process, in the lungs and airways.

The reduction of oral corticosteroid (OCS) use with the replacement of ciclesonide (CIC) was evaluated in a phase III, 12-week multinational, multicenter trial involving 141 patients with severe, persistent asthma. Results showed that about 30% of patients treated with ciclesonide were able to eliminate their OCS use entirely. All ciclesonide doses resulted in a significant percent change from baseline in OCS dose compared to placebo. Similarly, OCS dose was significantly changed from baseline in ciclesonide-treated patients. The most frequently reported adverse events were nasopharyngitis, headache, and upper respiratory tract infection.

"These findings are important because oral corticosteroids such as prednisone are known to cause systemic adverse events, which can be reduced by replacing them with inhaled corticosteroids,” said Sally E. Wenzel, M.D., professor at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center (Denver, Colorado). "Our study found a significant reduction in the need for oral corticosteroid use by patients with severe, persistent asthma who were treated with ciclesonide.”

Ciclesonide was jointly developed by the Sanofi-aventis Group (Paris, France) and Altana Pharma (Konstanz, Germany).




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