AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) said the Chinese authorities have approved Symbicort Turbuhaler, an anti-inflammatory reliever for mild asthma symptoms.
It can be used to help patients aged 12 years and older to control this respiratory condition.
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The FTSE 100 pharma giant said Symbicort Turbuhaler is the first dual-combination therapy approved in China as an anti-inflammatory reliever to treat mild asthma.
It is already approved in China for patients with moderate to severe asthma as an anti-inflammatory reliever plus maintenance therapy, and as maintenance therapy only.
Asthma is a chronic, variable, inflammatory disease which can cause asthma attacks and symptoms including breathlessness and wheezing, affecting 46mln adults in China, including an estimated 34mln mild cases.
“Everyone with asthma is at risk of an attack, regardless of their age, disease severity, adherence to treatment or level of control,” said Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President at the firm’s BioPharmaceuticals R&D arm.
“This approval means people with mild asthma in China can now take Symbicort Turbuhaler as an anti-inflammatory reliever to treat their symptoms and also to reduce the likelihood of an attack by treating the underlying inflammation in their airways.”
Shares rose 1% to 7,940p on Tuesday at the opening bell.