Aventis announced that the US FDA has approved Nasacort HFA (triamcinolone acetonide) Nasal Aerosol for the treatment of nasal symptoms associated with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and children age 6 and older.

Nasacort HFA Nasal Aerosol is the first intranasal corticosteroid dry-aerosol formulation approved in the U.S. that contains hydrofluoroalkane (HFA), rather than chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Nasacort HFA Nasal Aerosol will provide physicians and patients with a new option for those seeking a dry-aerosol formulation for the management of nasal allergy symptoms. It replaces Nasacort Nasal Inhaler, which was taken off the market in July 2003 to comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and FDA requirements intended to protect the ozone layer and that required the removal of nasal inhalers containing CFCs from the U.S. market.

In placebo controlled clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects were sneezing, headache, nasal irritation and rhinitis.