On Thursday, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said it had launched a new Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) drug in the country to treat patients with uncontrolled asthma. The Mumbai-based pharmaceutical giant has launched indacaterol + mometasone FDC under the Indamet brand.

The drug will be available in three strengths, a fixed dose of indacaterol 150 mcg and variable doses of mometasone 80 mcg, 160 mcg and 320 mcg, taken once daily. “The respiratory system is a key focus area for Glenmark, and the company is a leader in bringing the latest treatment options to patients.

The company noted that the drugmaker, the first FDC in India to market indacaterol, a long-acting beta-agonist, and mometasone furoate, an inhaled corticosteroid, has received DCGI (Drug Controller General of India) approval.

Asthma affects more than 34 million people in India and causes thousands of deaths yearly. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s (IHME) Global Burden of Disease report, asthma accounts for 27.9% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in India, resulting in 3 times higher mortality and two times higher DALYs compared to the global proportion of asthma.

Up to 49% of all asthma patients receiving usual care in India have uncontrolled asthma. Indamet will help manage uncontrolled asthma by improving lung function, better-controlling symptoms and reducing exacerbations, the drugmaker said.