New Asthma Relief Drug Has Fewer Side Effects
The new asthma drug
Xopenex helps sufferers stay active while causing very few side effects.
There's good news for people with asthma. Xopenex, a promising new treatment for patients
with asthma, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
March 30, 1999: For Immediate
Release

Xopenex, a promising new
treatment for patients with asthma, was approved this week by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). The DURA-NEB® compressor and PARI LC PLUS Reusable Nebulizer
were chosen as the aerosol delivery devices for the Xopenex Phase III, double-blind
clinical study.
It is important to
note that the DURA-NEB compressor and PARI LC PLUS Reusable Nebulizer were the only
medication delivery devices used in the approved U.S. clinical trials that demonstrated
Xopenex's excellent safety, efficacy and duration of action.
Xopenex, (levalbuterol) an HCI
inhalation solution used for treatment and prevention of bronchospasm, is manufactured by
Sepracor, of Marlborough, Massachusetts. The new formulation is important for the
treatment of asthma which affects over 14.5 million Americans because patients in the
study generally reported a lower incidence and severity of common beta-mediated side
effects, such as nervousness and tremor.
The DURA-NEB is an aerosol delivery system with a rechargeable internal battery, allowing
patients to take treatments almost anywhere. It can also be used with an AC power adapter
or 230V AC power adapter for overseas travel. The DURA-NEB Portable Compressor System
comes with the PARI LC PLUS Reusable Nebulizer, which is dishwasher safe, boilable, and
autoclavable.
Dr. Harold S. Nelson
of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, and one of the lead investigators in
the study, states, "We chose the PARI compressor and nebulizer for use in the
clinical trials because in past comparative studies the PARI delivery system
performed the best and proved to be the most reliable and effective." |