[Glaxo's] Serevent Approved In Canada For COPD
MONTREAL, QC -- Feb. 18, 1999 -- Health Canada's Therapeutic Products
Directorate has approved Glaxo Wellcome Inc.'s Serevent(R) (salmeterol xinafoate)
for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
COPD generally attacks smokers or ex-smokers over 40 or 50, causing a gradual and
in large part irreversible obstruction of the airways over the years. Serevent, a
long-acting inhaled bronchodilator, is the first new drug indicated for treatment of
COPD in four years.
During clinical trials, patients treated with Serevent experienced significant relief of
daytime and night-time symptoms. Lung function improved and the patients made less
frequent use of short-acting inhaled bronchodilators as rescue medication. For patients
with COPD, any improvement in lung function, any symptom relief, even minor, can
have a significant impact on everyday activities.
“A variety of inhaled bronchodilators are used to treat COPD, but they all have to be
taken frequently [about four times a day]. Because Serevent lasts for 12 hours, patients
with COPD can expect more sustained symptom relief during the day and they'll be
able to sleep at night-instead of waking up gasping for breath,” said Dr. Jean
Bourbeau, medical director of the respiratory outpatient clinic, the COPD clinic and
the respiratory rehabilitation program at the Institut thoracique de Montréal.
“Administration of a bronchodilator morning and evening should also facilitate
treatment compliance among COPD patients.”
COPD is the fifth-leading cause of death in North America today and, other than lung
cancer, the only leading cause of death that is on the rise in Canada. Although three
quarters of a million Canadians are currently diagnosed with COPD, an estimated 75
per cent of all COPD sufferers are not currently diagnosed.
The most frequent cause of COPD (chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema) is
a long history of smoking. Long-term smoking is the cause of 80 to 90 per cent of all
cases of COPD reported in industrialised countries. Irritated by tobacco smoke, the
bronchi produce large quantities of mucous. The result is what's commonly known as
smoker's cough. In 15 percent of smokers, there is more serious damage to the
airways, called chronic obstructive bronchitis, as well as gradual destruction of the lung
tissue, or emphysema. Other risk factors include heredity, second-hand smoke,
exposure to air pollution at work and in the environment in general and a history of
childhood respiratory infections.
The symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, coughing and expectoration. The
disease can become so debilitating that the regular activities of daily living-walking,
getting dressed and even eating-become extremely difficult. Patients suffering from
COPD thus gradually restrict their physical activities to prevent shortness of breath and
adopt a more and more sedentary lifestyle.
Serevent is a long-acting inhaled bronchodilator. It was approved for asthma treatment
in 1994 and is available in pharmacies across Canada. Serevent comes in a metered
dose inhaler, or puffer, as well as a new dry powder inhaler called Diskus.
The recommended dose is two 25-mg puffs per day (morning and evening).
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