Alvesco Medical Drug

Medical Drugs > Other

Description

Ciclesonide is a glucocorticoid used to treat obstructive airway diseases. It is marketed under the brand name Alvesco for asthma and Omnaris/Omniair for hayfever in the US & Canada. Phase 3 trials for the hayfever indication outside the US are ongoing (http://www.nycomed.com/en/Menu/Products/Product+overview).

Indications

Maintenance treatment in persistent asthma; hayfever

Specific Considerations

Pregnancy

No data as yet exists, Other inhaled glucocorticoids are considered ADEC category B3

Breastfeeding

Should be safe to use

Practice Points

* Appears to be as effective as budesonide or fluticasone for maintenance treatment in persistent asthma although long term data on clinical outcomes are lacking.
* In short term studies ciclesonide had a minimal effect on markers of adrenal suppression but data with long term use is lacking. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced October 2006 the approval of ciclesonide nasal spray for the treatment of nasal symptoms associated with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and children 12 years of age and older. (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/departs/2007/107_upd.html)

The safety and efficacy of the nasal spray, manufactured by ALTANA Pharma US, Inc. of Florham Park, NJ, were studied in randomized placebo controlled clinical trials. The studies showed that patients treated with nasal spray had an 8-10 percent greater reduction in nasal symptoms compared to placebo, with difference between ciclesonide nasal spray and placebo significant, i.e. p