Allergy sufferers in the Prairies will now have access to the first product in its class approved for non-prescription use that provides 24 hour relief of the full range of nasal allergy symptoms, including nasal congestion.
MONTREAL, Aug. 13, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - PENDOPHARM, a division of Pharmascience Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, announced today that Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM nasal spray is now available over-the-counter (OTC) in the Prairies for the temporary relief of numerous symptoms of perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing and itchy nose (in adults and children 12 years of age and older). Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM is the first product in its class to be made available without a prescription.
Twenty to Twenty-five percent (20-25%) of Canadians suffer from allergic rhinitis1 and allergy remedy use is on the rise. Moderate to severe symptoms can lead nasal allergy sufferers to a major disruption in their quality of life2.
"Many people don't understand that allergy symptoms are not caused by allergens directly but rather by the body's production of inflammatory agents, which are triggered by allergens. The inflammatory agents that cause allergy symptoms include histamines, leukotrienes, cytokines and prostaglandins," says Dr. Susan Waserman, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Allergy and Immunology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. "Currently available non-prescription antihistamines are proven to stop only one inflammatory agent*3. This leaves the other inflammatory agents to produce the nasal allergy symptoms. Unlike other OTC antihistamines, Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM stops more of the inflammatory agents that cause early and late phase allergy symptoms**3."
Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM is an intranasal corticosteroid (INS) spray that offers thixotropic, meaning that doesn't drip down the throat, odorless and tasteless relief. INS products such as Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM are recommended as the most effective drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis4.
As the First-to-Market non-prescription INS in Canada, Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM is an important addition to allergy remedies available without a prescription. Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM is a strategic fit with the PENDOPHARM Cough & Cold franchise and it brings a first class product to the PENDOPHARM portfolio with therapeutic benefits for consumers.
Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM received approval from Health Canada to switch to OTC use on January 14, 2015, and is now available on retail shelves. For more information, visit www.nasacort.ca.
About Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM
Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM (triamcinolone acetonide aqueous) belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids. Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM is used to temporarily relieve seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and perennial rhinitis (year-round inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. Symptoms of these conditions include itchy nose, runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing.
Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM reduces the irritation and inflammation in the lining of the nose and nasal passages and therefore it relieves nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose and sneezing. Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM should not be used when allergic to any of its ingredients, and in patients with active or dormant tuberculosis, or untreated fungal, bacterial and viral infection.
Intranasal steroids like Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM work differently than antihistamines because they stop more of the body's chemical responses that cause nasal allergy symptoms. This interrupts inflammation in the allergic cascade, treating both early-and-late phase reactions to address all nasal allergic rhinitis symptoms, even congestion. It may take 2-3 days of daily use to feel maximum relief.
The medicinal ingredient is: triamcinolone acetonide. The nonmedicinal ingredients are: benzalkonium chloride, carboxymethylcellulose, sodium, dextrose, edetate, disodium, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80 and purified water.
Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM, trademark of Aventis Pharma S.A., distributed by Pendopharm, a division of Pharmascience Inc. Nasacort Allergy 24HRTM is available in 2 sizes: a 60 spray bottle and a 120 spray bottle.
About PENDOPHARM, a division of Pharmascience Inc.
PENDOPHARM is a division of Pharmascience Inc., a Canadian privately-owned company. Established in 1983, Pharmascience Inc. is Canada's 10th largest pharmaceutical company, with a highly-skilled workforce of 1,623 people. Pharmascience commercializes over 400 products, including branded prescription, OTC and BTC products as well as generic products in Canada and with its affiliates and distributors in over 60 countries worldwide.
Strategically committed to growth, PENDOPHARM is actively engaged in licensing, partnering, developing and marketing late-stage specialty prescription medicines as well as consumer brands. www.pendopharm.com
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1 Allergies, Asthma, Our research is helping you and your loved ones. The Canadian Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Foundation. Brochure: http://www.allergyfoundation.ca/website/asthma_allergies_brochure.pdf
2 The burden of allergic rhinitis (AR) in Canada: perspectives of physicians and patients Paul K Keith & Al. http://www.aacijournal.com/content/8/1/7
3 Trangsrud AJ, Whitaker AL, Small RE. "Intranasal Corticosteroids for Allergic Rhinitis." Pharmacotherapy. 2002;22(11). www.medscape.com/viewarticle/444368
4 Bousquet J, et al. Aria, "Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma", In collaboration with the World Health Organization, GA2LEN and AllerGen. 2008;63.
*Antihistamines are only proven to target histamine at labeled dosages.
** When Nasacort AQ Allergy 24H is administered in therapeutic doses, it has a direct anti-inflammatory action on the nasal mucosa, the mechanism of which is not yet completely defined.
SOURCE Pendopharm
Image with caption: "Nasacort Allergy 24HR™ (CNW Group/Pendopharm)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150813_C1192_PHOTO_EN_477575.jpg
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