Stiolto Respimat (tiotropium bromide and olodaterol) Inhalation Spray is now available by prescription at pharmacies across the United States, according to manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.

Stiolto contains the anticholinergic, tiotropium, and the long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA), olodaterol. The drug works by helping the muscles around the airways in the lungs stay relaxed to prevent symptoms, such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

In May 2015, the US FDA approved Stiolto Respimat for the long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD. The treatment is not indicated to treat asthma or acute deterioration of COPD, Boehringer Ingelheim noted.

Boehringer Ingelheim will offer a savings card that will allow most eligible patients to get the treatment at no cost for 12 consecutive months, depending on their insurance provider.

“For more than 40 years, Boehringer Ingelheim has been an industry leader in the discovery and development of new treatment options for the COPD community. In fact, we began our scientific research of COPD when there were no available options, and now offer six therapies for people living with this chronic disease,” said Kathleen M. Dowd, senior vice president, Marketing, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “We are proud to offer patients Stiolto Respimat, which has proven to be more effective in improving lung function than either tiotropium or olodaterol alone, with a comparable safety profile.”

More information is available at www.stiolto.com.