Ivax Corporation has launched its asthma medicine Qvar in its patented Easi-Breathe inhaler in the United Kingdom. The product, approved on September 30, 2004, is being marketed by Ivax' UK subsidiary.

This is Ivax' first launch of Qvar in its Easi-Breathe inhaler, which should accelerate the growth of our asthma franchise in the UK. Qvar, a CFC-free aerosol formulation of beclomethasone dipropionate, is a "maintenance" medicine used to prevent asthma attacks.

Ivax started selling Qvar, in the United States in a standard metered dose inhaler in April 2002. At that time, QVAR had 0.8 per cent of the US single agent inhaled steroid market; it currently has a 7.2 per cent share. Qvar sales have also grown in Europe. Easi-Breathe eliminates the need to coordinate the manual release of the medicine with its inhalation, which is required by the standard metered dose aerosol inhaler, the company says.

In the United States, Ivax has an NDA pending for a CFC-free formulation of albuterol, a "rescue" medicine for asthma, in the Easi-Breathe device and has already received an approvable letter from the Federal Food and Drug Administration.

Ivax has been selling Qvar in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.