Mar 01, 2011 - Forest Announces FDA Approval of DalirespTM (Roflumilast) as a Treatment to Reduce the Risk of COPD Exacerbations in Patients with Severe COPD Associated with Chronic Bronchitis and a History of Exacerbations - Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) announced that Daliresp [TM] (roflumilast) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment to reduce the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. The efficacy and safety of Daliresp was evaluated in eight clinical studies including 9,394 adult patients.COPD is an under-diagnosed, progressive, irreversible lung disease. Symptoms of COPD include breathlessness, chronic cough and excessive production of phlegm. A significant worsening of symptoms - called an exacerbation - can last several weeks and often requires substantial medical intervention, including hospitalization.
Daliresp is the first and only selective phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor approved and is an oral tablet taken once daily. While the specific mechanism by which Daliresp exerts its therapeutic action in COPD patients is not well defined, it is thought to be related to the effects of increased intracellular cyclic AMP in lung cells. Forest expects Daliresp to be available to wholesalers in the second calendar quarter of 2011... Forest Laboratories' Press Release -
