Background: Intranasal azelastine hydrochloride (Astelin, Meda Pharmaceuticals, Somerset, NJ, USA) is a first-line treatment for allergic and non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis with well-established therapeutic efficacy and safety. A new formulation of azelastine nasal spray (Astepro, Meda Pharmaceuticals, Somerset, NJ, USA), with a sorbitol-based vehicle and sucralose as a taste-masking agent, was developed to reduce the bitter taste of azelastine experienced by some patients.
Objective: Two studies were conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic parameters of this new formulation compared with the original azelastine nasal spray.
Methods: In a pharmacokinetic study, 18 healthy volunteers received either a single dose of the new formulation or the original formulation and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. In a 1-year safety study, patients with chronic rhinitis were randomized to the new formulation (n = 430) or the original formulation (n = 432) to assess tolerability and the potential for adverse effects on the nasal mucosa.
Results/conclusions: The new formulation was safe and well tolerated with long-term use and had a comparable pharmacokinetic profile to the original formulation. The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events with the new formulation (48.4%) and the original formulation (49.1%) was similar, with no evidence of increased nasal irritation, nasal septal perforation, severe epistaxis or ulceration with either formulation during the 1-year study.