One press release states it is available as of 03/19/2012. Sure enough, when I checked Medco's formulary, it is there and a Tier 3 as far as pricing, so I guess docs are just waiting for the vixen sample-givers to show up and we'll all be on it.

Lol, thanks Dani. I'll call the doc & see if the Pharma Vixen has been there yet:>)

What is it?

One of the new once daily bronchodilators.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/novartis-launches-arcaptatm-neohalertm-a-novel-once-daily-bronchodilator-for-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-2012-03-19

Is it better than Spiriva?

Each person is going to be different and it seems like the research is all over the place, too. A lot of what I read seemed to think Spiriva should be sort-of the cornerstone of treatment, and then the other stuff added around it as necessary. But that was from a couple years ago, and it may be that more recent studies got different results (I haven't had a chance to dig too deep yet). I also know, though, that none of the studies have shown that any one drug is going to help every COPD sufferer, so I don't know that I'd change just for the sake of being on a new drug that still only treats the symptoms rather than provide a cure.

I've taken Spiriva for years. I was going to add it on. I'm still waiting for the cure though. I go up to the Cleveland Clinic every 6 months for their transplant program. I'm more interested in stem cell, but my Dr. thought getting hooked up with them now would be a help. The Dr.s up there told me trials for stem cell therapy should begin in 3 to 5 years :>))

Deb, the last i heard about Onbrez Breezhaler was that the FDA wanted Norvartis to mfg this in a 75mcg for distribution in the US. It distributes in other countries in 150 and 300 mcg.

I have some of the 150mcg and It seems pretty strong but would like to try the 75 mcg when it becomes available, which by the way was suppose to be right about now.

For USA don't know sorry - the wiki page was updated 10 April 2012 on this, most of the other info is dated 2011:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indacaterol

That's what my Dr. told me too Anna. Told me he'd just call it in when it was available. I was just there last Friday, so I guess not yet.

Call me crazy, but why don't you just call your pharmacy and see if they have it? Medco is carrying it, so I don't know if you use mail order or the corner apothecary. While I obviously haven't got the greatest doctor, no matter how good I don't think I would expect him to be read every press release of every drug (even among pulmonologists, there's such a wide range of diseases they treat and sundry medications, so if you're talking your GP, it would be an even longer list) and then keep track of which patients want what called in (A wants the new drug for her cough, B wants the new drug for her Crohn's, C wants the new drug for her arrhythmia, etc.).

If you really want it, call your pharmacy, see if they're carrying it, and then call the doc and ask him to phone it in for you.

LOL And I hope that doesn't come off as snarky, but sometimes we don't see the forest for the trees.

That would be my GP. My Pulmy just keeps giving me samples of corticosteroids which I through away. I don't know how good my GP is but I was one of his first patients out of school many moons ago. He remembers. I don't like the Medco Pharmacy. They mess-up too much & they charge more for ventolin than Kroger pharmacy or the representative my husband talked to last week was an idiot, which could well be,

LOL Kaput...So far Medco hasn't messed anything up too much, but I've only had insurance six months. I know, though, that my nebulizer solution (at least before I had reached my deductible) cost me twice as much there as it did at Walmart pharmacy. But the problem with a lot of the drugs like Spiriva, Symbicort, etc., are that at least my plan only allows me to get a one month's supply at a retail pharmacy in I think six months, sort of as an emergency. And it stinks for a new drug- if you get one month or three months, it's the same price, so if you get something that doesn't work, you either overpay for a one month trial or get stuck with pointless meds.

All these meds are getting wearisome. They better get busy with those stem cells so I can check myself into a surgery center for a day, have a stem cell flush through the bronchoscope under Versed and propofol, and then jog home.