Corporate Magazine 2012 - Boehringer Ingelheim

Cough and coldmucosolvan® (ambroxol) and bisolvon® (bromhexine)are both indicated for secretolytic therapy in bronchopulmonarydiseases associated with abnormal mucussecretion and impaired mucus transport.Cough is the most common symptom of clinical importanceand a frequent reason for consulting a doctor orvisiting a pharmacy. The clinical symptoms of coughand expectoration have led to the development of drugsthat affect respiratory mucus, i. e. the mucoactive agents.mucosolvan® (ambroxol), which promotes mucus clearance,facilitates expectoration and eases productivecough, allowing patients to breathe freely and deeply, isthe world’s leading cough brand. It is available in manydifferent product forms and formulations.body’s natural defence mechanisms. Ambroxol alsostimulates synthesis and release of surfactant by type IIpneumocytes.bisolvon® (bromhexine), available for all age groups,has been on the market since 1963. Bromhexine is containedin various formulations of bisolvon®. There arehigh- and low-strength syrups 8 mg/5 ml, 4 mg/5 ml,tablets and soluble tablets (both with 8 mg bromhexine)and solution for oral use (10 mg/5 ml), adapted to patients’needs. Bromhexine is a synthetic derivative of theherbal active ingredient vasicine. It has been shown toincrease the proportion of serious bronchial secretion,making it more easily expectorated. Bromhexine alsoenhances mucus transport by reducing mucus viscosityand by activating the ciliated epithelium.Ambroxol is a mucoactive drug with several properties,including secretolytic and secretomotoric actions thatrestore the physiological clearance mechanisms of therespiratory tract, which play an important role in theSore throatmucoangin® is the best documented product in its categoryof pain relief in acute sore throat.Pain in sore throat is the hallmark of acute pharyngitis,usually caused by a viral infection. The infection is, as arule, self-limited and the patient normally recovers in acouple of days. What is most bothersome for the patientis the continuous pain in the throat, which is maximisedwhen swallowing. The main goal of the treatment isthus to reduce pain.In addition to its secretolytic activity, ambroxol is a verypotent inhibitor of the neuronal sodium channels.Therefore mucoangin® (ambroxol) has a strong localanaesthetic effect, described first in the late 1970s, butexplained and confirmed in more recent work.80Boehringer Ingelheim annual report 2012