Altana AG has announced that the regulatory authorities in Brazil and Mexico have granted marketing approval for Alvesco (Ciclesonide), a novel inhaled corticosteroid. The Brazilian and Mexican authorities have approved Alvesco to treat all severity grades of asthma at doses of 80 to 640µg.

Alvesco is a new generation inhaled corticosteroid with novel pharmacokinetic properties. Inhaled corticosteroids are considered to be the cornerstone of asthma treatment, and they work by reducing inflammation - the underlying disease process - in the lungs and airways.

Altana Pharma obtained its first European approval for Alvesco in April, in UK, which serves as a Reference Member State for the Mutual Recognition Procedure in other European countries. Alvesco was approved to treat asthma of all severity grades in adults at daily doses of 160µg or 80µg.

"We are delighted about these additional Alvesco approvals in major Latin American markets. Alvesco will allow us to substantially broaden Altana Pharma's innovative profile and thereby continue with our strategy of internationalization", commented Dr. Hans-Joachim Lohrisch, chairman of the management board of Altana Pharma.

In February, Alvesco was approved in Australia to treat asthma in adults and adolescents from the age of 12 at a daily dose of up to 320µg.