Respiratory

Our products in this therapeutic area are designed to help patients who suffer from the following medical conditions: COPD, asthma, allergic rhinitis and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). We also offer a range of OTC products in the respiratory area, especially for treating cough and cold.

COPD

COPD remains a significant area of unmet medical need. It is a progressive and irreversible lung disease resulting in difficulty in breathing. The disease is characterized by severe episodes of worsening, called exacerbations. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 210 million people have COPD worldwide. More than 3 million people died of COPD in 2005, which corresponds to 5% of all deaths globally. The WHO predicts that total deaths from COPD could increase by more than 30% in the next 10 years unless urgent action is taken to reduce the underlying risk factors, especially smoking.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease that makes it difficult to breathe. At its worst, asthma can be fatal. Asthma patients’ airway walls are thick and swollen due to inflammation, which causes hyper-responsiveness to environmental factors or “triggers”. Increased mucus secretion also causes air flow obstruction. Approximately 300 million people around the world suffer from asthma and the number of cases is rising, especially in children. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be well-managed. With proper treatment, most people with asthma can live completely normal and active lives.

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa causing sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, and discharge. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, sometimes referred to as hay fever, is caused by substances such as pollen that trigger allergies. Perennial allergic rhinitis is a chronic condition caused by triggers such as pet dander and dust.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)

RDS is a life-threatening breathing disorder that most commonly affects prematurely born infants. Babies born before the 34th week of pregnancy have little or no naturally occurring surfactant. Without this substance, the alveoli (small air sacks) in the lungs stick together, making unassisted breathing impossible.

Common Cold

Every year millions of adults and children are affected by the common cold. On average, an adult comes down with a cold two to three times a year, whereas children can be affected five to six times a year. A common cold usually starts with sore throat. The next symptoms are usually a runny or congested nose, in some cases combined with headache, joint ache and fever. After four to five days, around 80% of the patients develop a cough. Nycomed offers a range of over-the-counter products for the treatment of the most symptoms of a common cold.