An inhalation spray for lung conditions created by Ridgefield-based Boehringer Ingelheim is now available by prescription at pharmacies in the U.S.
- Stiolto Respimat.
In May, the company announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, Stiolto Respimat, as a long-term, once-daily treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.
Boehringer Ingelheim announced it will offer a savings card that will allow most eligible patients to get Stiolto Respimat at no cost for a year, depending on their insurance provider.
COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a serious but treatable lung disease, according to a statement from the company. More than 15 million Americans have been told that they have the disease, but as many as 45 percent of the total estimated COPD cases in the U.S. remain undiagnosed, Boehringer Ingelheim said. COPD symptoms can negatively impact a patient”™s ability to breathe, especially when performing daily activities.
The inhaler, Respimat, delivers a slow-moving mist of the drug, Stiolto, to the patient’s lungs. Stiolto works by helping relax the muscles around the airways in the lungs to prevent symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
