Almirall now marketing star product in Spain
The treatment was developed by the R&D area of this Catalan pharmaceutical firm and registered under the brand name Eklira® Genuair®.
By Biocat
Barcelona-based pharmaceutical firm Almirall has started marketing aclidinium in Spain —under the brand name Eklira® Genuair®— to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. In Europe, Almirall has already launched aclidinium in Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Iceland and Norway. Furthermore, it has been on the market in the United States since December, through a partnership with Forest Laboratories. The product is being developed in collaboration with Kyorin in Japan and with Daewoong in Korea.
Studies conducted by Almirall confirm that this active ingredient improves lung function and daytime, nighttime and early-morning symptoms of COPD as well as reducing exacerbations. According to Dr. Pilar de Lucas, president of the Spanish Society for Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), “bronchodilators are key to treating COPD. Aclidinium, the newest of these products to hit the market, has proven to be an effective drug that reduces patient symptoms not only during the day but also at night.”
COPD affects 10% of the population in Spain and is characterized by a permanent obstruction of the respiratory airways that hinders the passage of air through the bronchia and worsens over time. It is also known as chronic bronchitis or emphysema. “The main symptom is difficulty breathing, which in the initial stages is experienced during exercise or strenuous activities. But as the disease progresses, patients can feel out of breath during such everyday activities as dressing, showering or shaving,” commented Dr. de Lucas.
Managing Director of Almirall in Spain Enrique Domínguez explained that this company carries out “3% of all pharmaceutical R&D in Spain and is third on the overall ranking of R&D expenditure for all sectors.”
More information is available on the Almirall website.