Almirall presents the latest news in respiratory diseases

• The NAR and the 9th symposium on respiratory diseases reflect Almirall’s commitment to patients and its support and training for professionals
• Aclidinium, Almirall’s proprietary R&D medicine for the relief of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) symptoms through its user-friendly delivery device, was launched in Spain earlier this year
• COPD afflicts over 300 million people worldwide and is the third leading cause of death, while only 20% of patients are diagnosed

Barcelona, 20-3-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The 9th Symposium on Respiratory Diseases, promoted by Almirall, gets underway in Barcelona today, bringing together specialists in pulmonology and thoracic surgery from all over Spain.  In parallel, the first NAR Project (Annual News in Respiratory)will also be taking placefor internists and primary care physicians. This initiative, set to continue, complements Almirall’s commitment to the professionals involved in treating respiratory pathologies.

Infradiagnosis, prevention and personalised medicine are the challenges in COPD

The 9th Symposium on Respiratory Diseases is a recognised meeting point for establishing direct contact and scientific information exchange among healthcare professionals, as well as generating topical discussions to clarify concepts, presenting expertise, analysing insights and discussing controversies in principal respiratory disease issues.

This forum, to be inaugurated by Dr. Pilar de Lucas, president of the Spanish Society for Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), provides a backdrop for preeminent scientific speeches and how to apply the expertise in daily clinical practice.

This year Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the meeting’s principal topics.  Special emphasis is placed on correctly using the spirometry test to diagnose the disease for optimum results.   The need to make people aware, COPD sufferers in particular, of the risks of smoking will also be underlined.  Recent studies on COPD have classified patients according to phenotypes, which enables treatment to be adapted to them.   The difficulty healthcare professionals now face is in adapting this treatment to the individual’s particular characteristics.

Another principal topic is morbid obesity, a source of serious diseases and one that plays a leading role in obstructive sleep apnoea. The high prevalence of obesity in recent years has sent alarm bells ringing in the medical sector.  As well as provoking an increase in the number of people affected by sleep apnoea, obesity is related to asthma and other diseases affecting the airways.

Lastly, two of the most common respiratory diseases in Spain will also be discussed: asthma and acquired pneumonia.

The role of the general practitioner in tackling respiratory diseases

The NAR (Annual News in Respiratory)strives to become a meeting point for respiratory professionals.

The meeting enables internists and primary care doctors to discuss the most important scientific news in 2012. It is divided into three sections: COPD, asthma, and respiratory infections and a special one each year, which this year is how to manage chronic patients, a key issue for healthcare professionals.

The NAR covers the main news of the year in COPD, a disease that according to latest data from the World Health Organisation afflicts over 300 million people around the world and is now the third leading cause of death. Over the last year, two important clinical practice guidances (GOLD and GesEPOC) have polarized attitudes to the pathology and a specific review will be carried out on the differences and similarities of both guidelines.

Asthma is another increasingly prevalent chronic respiratory disease.  The meeting will look at potential clinical phenotypes and fundamental news in the disease’s care practice.

Lastly, there will be discussions on the most prevalent acute respiratory pathology: respiratory infection, with a special focus on latest guidelines drawn up for acquired pneumonia in the community.

Almirall: committed to respiratory diseases

These two meetings reflect Almirall’s dedication to respiratory diseases; one of the company’s key areas.  Respiratory pathology is also one of Almirall’s research focuses.

This year, in Spain, Almirall began commercialising aclidinium, its proprietary research bronchodilator medicine for maintenance treatment of COPD in adults.   This is a new, long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) delivered through an innovative and easy-to-use device.

Efficacy studies show that aclidinium provides significant improvement in bronchodilation and symptom control from the very first dose and throughout the whole day and night [1], [2]..  Patients showed a reduction of moderate to severe exacerbations by around 30% and a clinically important improvement in breathing difficulties and the patient’s specific health2, [3].

The innovative technology of a novel, multidose dry powder inhaler  (mDPI)  that comes pre-loaded and ready for use makes it user- friendly and convenient, thus encouraging a greater number of correct inhalations and patient satisfaction compared to other inhalers [4].

Almirall

Almirall is a pharmaceutical company committed to provide valuable medicines through our own R&D efforts, which exceeded 23% on sales in 2012, together with external partnerships, licenses and collaborations. Through seeking innovative medicines we aim to become a relevant player in respiratory and dermatology diseases with also a strong interest in gastroenterology and pain. With more than 3,000 employees in 22 countries, Almirall generated total revenues of 900 million in 2012.

The company was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. The stock is traded in the Spanish stock exchange (ticker: ALM).

For more information please visit www.almirall.com

More information:

Ketchum Pleon

Carolina Rodríguez-Solano/Elena Nido

Tel: 91 788 32 00 / carolina.rodriguez@ketchum.com

elena.nido@ketchum.com