Hanmi said Wednesday that it has presented its phase 3 clinical trial results for Monterizine, a combination treatment for asthma and allergic rhinitis, at the annual conference of American College of Chest Physicians on Monday.

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.

Professor Park Jong-sook of the Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital presented the phase 3 clinical trial at the conference.

The research 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.

“Allergic rhinitis symptoms accompany approximately 80 percent of asthmatic patients,” Professor Park said. “The trial proved that the drug’s montelukast component, which treats nasal obstruction a major symptom of allergic rhinitis, improved efficacy compared to second-generation antihistamines.”

Park added his team expects that the treatment will create great synergy when combined with Levocetirizine.

Park Myung-hee, head of marketing at Hanmi, said “The clinical trials of Monterizine confirmed the overall improvement in nasal symptoms in asthma-associated allergic rhinitis patients. We will continue to provide diverse scientific evidence that Monterizine is a necessary drug for asthma-associated allergic rhinitis patients.”