Ciclesonide is more effective than budesonide in the treatment of persistent asthma.

Background: Ciclesonide is a lung-activated inhaled corticosteroid that provides effective control of persistent asthma. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of once-daily ciclesonide versus once-daily budesonide in patients with asthma.

Methods: A total of 399 patients with asthma were randomised to receive once-daily ciclesonide 320 microg ex-actuator (equivalent to 400 microg ex-valve) or once-daily budesonide 400 microg for 12 weeks.

Equivalent pharmacokinetics of the active metabolite of ciclesonide with and without use of the AeroChamber Plus spacer for inhalation.

Background: Ciclesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid that provides safe and effective control of persistent asthma. Ciclesonide is administered as an aerosol solution in a metered-dose inhaler, using hydrofluoroalkane-134a as a propellant. It is activated in the lung to form its only active metabolite, desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-CIC).

Lack of pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction between ciclesonide and erythromycin.

Objective: To investigate whether systemic exposure to desisobutyrylciclesonide (des-CIC) (the pharmacologically active metabolite of ciclesonide) and erythromycin are affected by combined administration of ciclesonide and erythromycin.

Methods: 18 healthy subjects were enrolled in a Phase 1, open-label, randomized, three-period crossover study. Each subject received ciclesonide (640 microg ex-actuator, equivalent to 800 microg ex-valve, via hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler) and erythromycin (500 mg PO), separately and in combination, in random order.

Effect of ciclesonide on allergen challenge in subjects with bronchial asthma.

Background: The aim of this clinical trial was to investigate whether repeated inhalation of the new inhaled steroid ciclesonide reduces the early-phase (EAR) and late-phase (LAR) reactions after allergen challenge in patients with mild allergic asthma. Also, this study provides further data on safety and tolerance of ciclesonide.

Methods: The study was designed as a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized crossover trial.

Budipine provides additional benefit in patients with Parkinson disease receiving a stable optimum dopaminergic drug regimen.

Background: The complex pharmacological profile of the antiparkinsonian drug budipine influences neurotransmission beyond the dopaminergic system. Previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of budipine on motor symptoms in insufficiently treated patients with Parkinson disease.

Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy of 20 mg of budipine, 3 times daily, in addition to a stable, prior, optimum-titrated dopaminergic substitution consisting of a combination of levodopa and a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor, bromocriptine mesylate, and optional selegiline hydrochloride in 99 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.