STUDIES IN US POSITIVE ON ASTRAZENECA ASTHMA TREATMENT

US studies comparing AstraZeneca's Symbicort asthma treatment with alternatives have reported favourable results for the UK- and Sweden-based drug major. The trials evaluated the drug's performance against a conventional therapy based on fixed-dose medicines, administered with a separate reliever treatment. The combined budesonide and formoterol inhaled drug reportedly reduced severe asthma symptoms by 45% among the 2,760 mild to moderate asthma sufferers surveyed. AstraZeneca has already developed its Pulmicort asthma spray for European markets.