Indian pharmaceutical major Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited Friday announced the launch of a branded once-a-day inhaler for asthma patients.
"Ranbaxy has introduced this product for the first time in India. Osonide is available in HFA (Hydroxy fluoro Alkane: the propellant) based pressurised metered dose inhalers in two strengths - Osonide 160mcg and Osonide 80mcg," the company said in a statement.Osonide HFA Inhaler, as opposed to the conventional CFC (chloro-fluoro carbon propellant) inhaler, ensures better delivery in patients' airways with the property of being activated only in the lungs, thereby reducing side effects.
"The product will provide physicians with a contemporary therapeutic option for superior management of asthma therapy," said Sanjeev I. Dani, Ranbaxy's regional director for India and Middle East.
India has an estimated 15-20 million asthmatic patients and the estimated prevalence rate in children aged between five and 11 years is between 10 and 15 percent.
--Edited IANS