beclometasone 100mcg, formoterol 6mcg metered dose inhaler (Fostair®)

Following an abbreviated submission

beclometasone 100mcg, formoterol 6mcg metered dose inhaler (Fostair®) is accepted for use within NHS Scotland for the regular treatment of asthma where use of a combination product (inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist) is appropriate: patients not adequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and ‘as needed’ inhaled short acting beta2-agonist; or patients already adequately controlled on both inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists.

It should be used in patients for whom beclometasone and formoterol are appropriate choices of corticosteroid and long-acting beta-agonist, respectively, and for whom a metered dose inhaler is an appropriate delivery device. It has costs similar to other combination products containing a corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist to which it was clinically non-inferior.

The 100mcg dose of beclometasone in Fostair® is not bioequivalent to a 100mcg dose of beclometasone in several other inhaler formulations. The Fostair® summary of product characteristics contains information on transferring from these inhalers to Fostair®.