Nycomed's Alvesco gets FDA OK for asthma

Privately-owned Danish pharmaceutical firm Nycomed says that it has received US Food and Drug Administration approval for its asthma drug Alvesco (ciclesonide). The product, which Nycomed purchased as part of its deal with Germany's Altana AG in 2006 (Marketletters passim) has been cleared as a prophylactic treatment and as maintenance therapy for patients aged 12 years and over.

Nycomed said that it intends to seek a partner with which to commercialize Alvesco in the USA, where the estimated cost of treatment for asthma totals around $11.5 billion a year. To date, the product has been made available in 30 countries worldwide, with further launches planned this year, says the Danish firm.