Altana Pharma has announced that the Swiss regulatory authority Swissmedic has granted marketing approval for Alvesco (ciclesonide), a lung-activated inhaled corticosteroid with novel release and distribution properties.

In Switzerland Alvesco will be indicated for the anti-inflammatory long-term therapy of asthma in adults, adolescents and children 6 years of age and older. Recommended dosages vary between 80 to 1.280 mg per day allowing for a once or twice daily dose regimen.

"This new approval of Alvesco is a significant step for Altana Pharma as we expand the availability of Alvesco into an important European market beyond the reach of European Union's marketing authorization scheme", said Dr. Hans-Joachim Lohrisch, CEO of Altana Pharma AG.

Alvesco is now approved in 40 markets worldwide and has been launched in nearly 30 markets. It is an inhaled corticosteroid with novel release and distribution properties resulting in lung-targeted anti-inflammatory effects. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), considered being the foundation of asthma treatment, working by reducing inflammation -the underlying disease process - in the lungs and airways.

Altana Pharma AG is the pharmaceutical division of Altana AG, head-quartered in Konstanz, Germany. Altana Pharma is an internationally successful, research-based company providing innovative pharmaceuticals that create a higher quality of life for patients, modern jobs for highly qualified employees and a good return for shareholders.