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Boehringer Ingelheim has vast experience and a long tradition in respiratory compounds; the company’s involvement with respiratory compounds started in 1921 with the respiratory analeptic Lobelin; the asthma compound Aludrin was introduced in 1941 and the Berotec inhalation aerosol for the treatment of asthma and Atrovent for the treatment of COPD were introduced in the 1960s and 70s. With Spiriva (which contains the compound tiotropium), the family-run business owns a blockbuster drug that achieved a sales volume of over three billion euros in 2011. In 2001, tiotropium was the first once-daily anticholinergic (LAMA) inhaler to provide 24-hour bronchodilation in COPD. According to Boehringer, tiotropium has been used by 25 million patients and is the most prescribed COPD therapy worldwide.
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