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To: Anthony Wong who wrote (1444)	2/18/1999 11:23:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1722

[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).