Boehringer Ingelheim today announced that Striverdi® Respimat® (olodaterol) Inhalation Spray 5 mcg is now available by prescription in pharmacies across the United States. STRIVERDI RESPIMAT is a long-term, once-daily maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. STRIVERDI RESPIMAT is not indicated to treat asthma or acute deteriorations of COPD.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2014, STRIVERDI RESPIMAT is a long-acting beta agonist (LABA) delivered via the Respimat® inhaler, which provides a pre-measured amount of medicine in a slow-moving mist that helps patients inhale the medicine. The RESPIMAT inhaler was developed to actively deliver medication in a way that does not depend on how fast air is breathed in from the inhaler.
"For over a half century, Boehringer Ingelheim has been a leader in discovering and developing new therapies for respiratory diseases. We're proud to build upon our respiratory heritage by bringing STRIVERDI RESPIMAT to market as a new COPD maintenance treatment option," said Kathleen M. Dowd, senior vice president, Marketing, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Approximately 15 million Americans have been told by a healthcare provider that they have COPD, and we believe STRIVERDI RESPIMAT will be a welcome option for providers and patients alike."
The FDA approval of STRIVERDI RESPIMAT was based on data from eight Phase III clinical trials—including data from 48-week and 6-week duration trials—involving 4,450 people living with COPD. Patients involved in the 48-week studies were allowed to continue on their usual care with the exception of LABAs. Usual care included long- and short-acting anticholinergics, short-acting beta agonists, inhaled corticosteroids and xanthines.
Boehringer Ingelheim will offer a savings card that will allow most eligible patients to get STRIVERDI RESPIMAT at no cost for a limited time, depending on their insurance provider. The savings card is available at www.STRIVERDI.com and can be activated at any pharmacy. For more information about Boehringer Ingelheim's patient assistance program, BI Cares, please visit BIPatientAssistance.com.
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