Pharmaprojects R&D Pipeline News Feed
US approval for Veramyst - sniff competition from GSK
2 May 2007
US approval for GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK's) seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis treatment, Veramyst (fluticasone furoate) could not have come at a better time – its expected launch in late May will coincide with the peak of the allergy season.
Veramyst is a long-acting, once-daily inhaled corticosteroid and will be the first prescription nasal steroid spray that has demonstrated clinical efficacy in relieving nasal symptoms and also consistently improving overall ocular symptoms in patients 12 years of age and older. Robert Nathan, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, said of the drug, “Veramyst may offer appropriate allergy patients the convenience of a single once-daily treatment to relieve their nasal and eye symptoms”. This dual-use may give GSK an essential advantage in this multi-billion dollar market. It has been approved in adults and children over 2 years old.
The standard of care for allergic rhinitis sufferers consists of a multi-therapy approach. Currently-approved nasal sprays, such as Nycomed’s ciclesonide and AstraZeneca’s budesonide turbuhaler, leave ophthalmic symptoms untouched, necessitating the use of eye drops. GSK hopes that the dual action of Veramyst will give it a competitive edge over its rivals.
