Hanmi Pharmaceutical said that it has presented the phase 3 clinical trial results for Monterizine, a combination treatment for asthma and allergic rhinitis, on Clinical Therapeutics, a Science Citation Index (SCI) level medical journal.

Monterizine is a combination treatment that uses Montelukast, a component that alleviates asthma and rhinitis symptoms by inhibiting leukotriene substances, and Levocetirizine, an antihistamine used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

The study, led by Park Choon-sik of the department of pulmonology at Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital, treated 220 asthma and allergic rhinitis patients with the Monterizine at 22 medical institutions. Patients received the drug once a day for four weeks.

As a result, Monterizine proved superior efficacy compared to the montelukast monotherapy regarding daytime nasal symptom score (MDNSS) in the last two weeks of the trial. Also, the treatment showed no significant adverse events compared to the montelukast monotherapy.

“Montelukast component, which treats nasal obstruction a major symptom of allergic rhinitis, shows improved efficacy compared to second-generation antihistamines,” said a researcher who participated in the study. “The team expects that the treatment will create great synergy when combined with Levocetirizine.”

Park Myung-hee, head of marketing at Hanmi, said “The company has internationally demonstrated the effectiveness and excellence for Monterizine through publishing its clinical trials results on an SCI-level international journal. By strengthening evidence-based marketing, we will do our best to make Monterizine as one of the main treatment options for patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis.”