ALTANA PHARMA RECEIVES APPROVAL TO MARKET ALVESCO (CICLESONIDE) IN CANADA

ALTANA AG announced that the Canadian regulatory authority Health Canada has granted marketing approval for Alvesco (ciclesonide), a lung-activated inhaled corticosteroid with novel release and distribution properties. Alvesco is indicated as prophylactic management of steroid-responsive bronchial asthma in patients 18 years of age and older at doses of 100 to 800mcg per day (which is equivalent to 80 to 640mcg ex-actuator). The market introduction of Alvesco in Canada is being planned for the fourth quarter of 2006. Genetic Engineering News (http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=5740442)