Cadila Pharmaceuticals, the Ahmedabad based Pharma major, has launched its first ever anti-asthmatic drug, based on the molecule Montelukast, under the brand name Montelast. The new brand, according to company sources, is used as an adjuvant in the management of asthma, which enables to reduce the dosage of corticosteroids and beta-2 agonists. Thus, the side effects are also reduced drastically.

The anti-asthma product of CPL is launched by Lesante, the marketing arm of the company, which is specializing in respiratory segment has its own doctor specialities carved out for this segment. According to R.Sahni, Sr.Vice President, Marketing, CPL, Montelast, made available in 10, 5 and 4 mg tablet dosage form, aims at a turnover of Rs. 7 crore in the first year.

The anti-asthmatic market in India today is estimated at Rs. 442 crore growing at the rate of 16 per cent per annum. Out of this, the inhalant preparations contribute Rs. 198 crore, at 20 per cent growth per annum and solids Rs.165 crore at 14 per cent growth per annum. Montelast, being an adjuvant therapy in asthma management has the potential to cater to the entire anti-asthma market, says Sahni.

He informed that Montelast is very safe in paediatric patients. "A comparative study in chronic asthma patients involving corticosteroid plus Montelukast and corticosteroid plus placebo groups observed that Montelukast reduces the dosage of corticosteroid by 47% while in placebo group, the dosage of cortcosteroid is reduced only by 30%," he said. The study revealed that in paediatric asthma patients, Montelukast reduces the dosage of corticosteroid by 44.78% within 6 weeks and by 82.47% in 18 weeks. In allergic rhinitis, Montelukast when combined with loratidine provides significant improvement in daytime nasal symptom score, eye symptom score and nighttime symptom, he added.

Asthma is an age-old disease, symptoms of which were first recorded 3500 years ago in the Egyptian manuscripts. Till recently, the mainstay of asthma management was corticosteroids and beta-2 agonists. However, these regimens are associated with serious side effects like immunosuppression and corticosteroid induced osteoporosis. To avoid these side effects, it is essential to reduce the dosage of these drugs without affecting the over all asthma management. Rather the objective should be to improve the quality of life of asthma patients.