Boehringer Ingelheim receives approval for Aservo^® EquiHaler^®, industry first therapy for severe equine asthma

Ingelheim, Germany, Tuesday, 04/02/2020 - 08:00

Aservo^®EquiHaler^® (ciclesonide inhalation solution) is a result of synergies between human pharma and animal health businesses
The inhaler addresses an unmet need in the equine segment
The company continues to set new standards of care to strengthen its commitment to animal welfare

Ingelheim, Germany, 4 February 2020 - Horses with severe equine asthma struggle to breath, even at rest. This week, the European Commission granted marketing authorization¹ to Boehringer Ingelheim for the new Aservo^® EquiHaler^® - and horses that suffer from severe equine asthma can now benefit from this new therapy.

While inhaled therapies for the treatment of asthma are common in human health, the approval of the Aservo^® EquiHaler^® marks an industry first in equine medicine, as until now, there has been no approved inhalant therapy licensed for use in horses with severe equine asthma.

The Aservo^® EquiHaler^® represents the culmination of over a decade of collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim’s human pharma and animal health R&D groups. The Respimat™ inhaler used in human respiratory disease is differentiated by the unique Soft Mist™ Technology, which was integrated into the new Aservo^® EquiHaler^®, allowing medication to be inhaled, deep into the lung. “The inhaler is a prime example of leveraging innovation efforts of both our businesses. This has been a strength in the past and we will expand this in the near future to further increase the delivery of innovative solutions for our patients and customers,” shares Eric Haaksma, Head of R&D, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit.

The newly approved inhaler is designed specifically for use in horses. It includes an ergonomic handle and dosing lever for ease of user handling, and a nostril adaptor that fits gently inside the nostril of the horse, allowing them to easily inhale the medicated mist. The active ingredient in the Aservo^® EquiHaler^® is the prodrug ciclesonide, which is a corticosteroid that is activated directly in the lung, reducing lower airway inflammation associated with severe equine asthma.

“Treating severe equine asthma can be challenging for veterinarians and horse owners, who struggle to find safe and effective ways to help horses breath,” says Erich Schoett, Global Business Head of Equine for the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit. “Bringing a new, safe and effective treatment to the market is something that we can really be proud of. It is a strong indicator of the commitment that Boehringer Ingelheim has to the health and welfare of horses, and to the investment that we make into continuing to advance therapies through collaboration and innovation.”

The Aservo^® EquiHaler^® is expected to be available for veterinarians in the EU in 2020.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit

Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world, with net sales of almost 4 billion euros in 2018 and presence in more than 150 markets.

Across the globe, our 10,000 employees create the future of animal wellbeing through their daily work. We believe in prevention over treatment and therefore, we focus on developing innovative solutions in the field of vaccines, parasiticides and therapeutics. With a large portfolio of advanced, preventive healthcare products, tools and services, we support our customers in taking care of the health of their animals.

For more information visit: www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health/overview.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Improving the health of humans and animals is the goal of the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company therefore concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention.

Family-owned since it was established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top 20 companies. Some 50,000 employees create value through innovation daily for the three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. In 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around 17.5 billion euros. R&D expenditure of almost 3.2 billion euros, corresponded to 18.1 per cent of net sales.

As a family-owned company, Boehringer Ingelheim plans in generations and focuses on long-term success. The company therefore aims at organic growth from its own resources with simultaneous openness to partnerships and strategic alliances in research. In everything it does, Boehringer Ingelheim naturally adopts responsibility towards mankind and the environment.

More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found on www.boehringer-ingelheim.com or in our annual report: http://annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Intended audiences:

This press release is issued from our Corporate Headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved products may vary from country to country, and a country-specific press release on this topic may have been issued in the countries where we do business.