Children aged two to five experienced "significant improvements in asthma control" when given montelukast (Singulair), according to data presented by Professor Hans Bisgaard (professor of paediatrics, Copenhagen university hospital, Denmark) at the American Thoracic Society's international conference in Toronto, Canada (May 5-10). The manufacturer of Singulair, Merck Sharp & Dohme, is currently applying for a licence for this age group in Europe. In the US, a licence was recently approved.
In the randomised, double-blind trial of 689 children, 4mg montelukast was administered once daily (461 patients received montelukast and 228 placebo). Montelukast was found to reduce the number of days with symptoms, daytime asthma scores, the number of days when beta-agonist was required and treatment with corticosteroid "rescue" medicines. The side effect profile of the drug was found to be generally similar to placebo.