Avamys A New Nasal Spray For Allergic Rhinitis To Ease Both Nose And Eye Symptoms In An Award Winning Device

Main Category: Allergy
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 11 Feb 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Avamys (fluticasone furoate), a new intranasal steroid (INS) manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), launches in the UK today. In clinical trials, Avamys has shown significant improvements in both nasal and ocular symptoms in adult and adolescent patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).1 Avamys has also demonstrated improvement in health-related quality of life domains, including eye and sleep related improvements.2

Over a quarter of the UK population suffers from allergic rhinitis,3 and over 70% of them experience both nasal and ocular symptoms.4

The introduction of Avamys comes as new research reveals that 72% of general practitioners (GPs) believe the current delivery of intranasal steroids could be improved.5 The same research also shows that 93% of UK GPs see a spike in patient visits and associated workload during the hay-fever season as a result of SAR, suggesting a need for earlier control of all symptoms.5

Avamys is an easy and effective treatment to use, thanks to an award-winning spray device* which ensures comfort, a consistent dose, little or no drip down throat/nose and minimal or no aftertaste.6,7 Avamys offers symptom relief for 24 hours at a time.1 A clinical study has shown preference for fluticasone furoate (Avamys) compared to fluticasone propionate (Flixonase) by patients with allergic rhinitis with respect to sensory attributes such as odour, taste, dripping down the throat, and nose runoff following single-dose administration.8

Studies have shown that fluticasone furoate has low systemic bioavailability, rapid clearance from the systemic circulation and 99% plasma protein binding, minimising systemic exposure to the 'free' drug1. Avamys is generally well tolerated, with types of side effects that are typical of the INS class of medicines.1

Dr Glenis Scadding, Consultant Allergist at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital in London, says "Avamys is a welcome addition to the treatment options for allergic rhinitis. One of the most problematic things for GPs is that patients often do not find the right treatment or combination of treatments to control their symptoms and repeatedly come back for further advice or treatment options."

"Many people who suffer from allergic rhinitis say their symptoms affect their lifestyle such as sleep, normal daily activities, and work or school life. So to have a nasal spray which will ease both nasal and ocular symptoms and can be delivered in such an effective manner is most welcome."

Avamys is a prescription only medicine licensed for the treatment of symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Adults and adolescents from 12 years should be treated with a starting dose of two sprays per nostril once daily, and maintenance dose of one spray per nostril per day. Children from 6 to 11 years of age should be treated at a dose of one spray per nostril per day.1

There are several treatment choices for people with allergic rhinitis, but the most common are oral, such as antihistamines, or intranasal such as intranasal steroids (INS).9

While antihistamines are effective for reducing runny nose, sneezing and itching they may have reduced effect on nasal congestion. INS on the other hand are recognised as the first line treatment choice for alleviating nasal congestion, as well as improving the other symptoms of rhinitis.9

INS' are recommended as first-line therapy in individuals with moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis.6

Avamys is available at an NHS list price of £6.44.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common condition affecting one in four people and is classified into seasonal AR (SAR) and perennial AR (PAR), with SAR typically caused by outdoor allergens such as pollens, and PAR usually caused by indoor allergens such as dust mite, animal dander and mould.

Over a quarter of the UK population suffers from allergic rhinitis, and over 70% of them experience both nasal and ocular symptoms.4 These normally appear as a combination of runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy nose with red, watery and itchy eyes. Persistent symptoms can lead to headaches, sore throats, and sinus and ear pain.9

Many people who suffer from AR say their symptoms affect their lifestyle such as sleep, normal daily activities, and work or school performance.2,10 Despite this, a survey has shown that the majority of patients do not have adequate control of their symptoms despite the availability of medication.11

References

1. Avamys Summary of Product Characteristics 2008

2. van Bavel, Toler T, Ellsworth A et al. Once-daily fluctisanone furoate* nasal spray (FFNS) improved quality of life (QoL) in subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) during the mountain cedar pollen season. *USAN approved name. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007; 119(Suppl 1):S231

3. Bauchau V, Durham SR. Prevalence and rate of diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in Europe. Eur Respir J. 2004;24(5):758-64.

4. Canonica GW, Bousquet J, Mullol J et al. A survey of the burden of allergic rhinitis in Europe. Allergy. 2007;62 Suppl 85:17-25.

5. ICM Research conducted amongst 2051 people and 350 GPs about allergic rhinitis. January 2009.

6. Berger WE, Godfrey JW, Slater AL. Intranasal corticosteroids: the development of drug delivery device for fluticasone furoate as a potential step toward improved compliance. Exper Opin Drug Deliv. 2007; 4(6): 689-701

7. Berger W, Godfrey JW, Grant AC et al. Fluticasone furoate (FF) nasal spray development of a next-generation delivery system for allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007; 119(1 Suppl): S231.

8. Meltzer E, Stahlman E, Leflein J et al. Preferences of adult patients with allergic rhinitis for the sensory attirbutes of fluticasone furate versus fluticasone propionate nasal sprays: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, single-dose, cross over study. Clin Therapeutics 2008; 30(2): 271-279

9. Bousquet J, Van Cauwenberge P and Khaltaev N. Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001 Nov;108(5 Suppl):S147-334.

10. Walker S et al. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is associated with a detrimental effect on examination performance in United Kingdom teenagers: Case-control. J Allergy Clin Immunol, August 2007

11. Nathan R, Meltzer E, Derebery J et al. Rhinitis symptom sufferers report a significant burden during an allergy season, AAAA1 2006

GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

* Medical Design Excellence Award 2008 winner.

The award is based upon descriptive materials submitted to the jurors; the jurors and the competition operators did not verify the accuracy of any submission or of any claims made and did not test the item to which the award was given. For further information please visit http://www.mdeawards.com

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

Under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect GSK' s operations are described under 'Risk Factors' in the 'Business Review' in the company' s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2007.

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