Singulair Surpasses $1 Billion Sales Mark
	Global annual sales for Singulair surpassed $1 billion in 2001. In the United States, sales of the medicine grew at a 58 percent rate. Singulair is now the No. 1 prescribed asthma controller in the United States and the No. 2 worldwide. Asthma is one of the world’s most common chronic health problems. More than 50 million people suffer from asthma in developed nations alone. About 16 million of those have yet to be diagnosed and, of those remaining, about half are unsatisfied with their current therapy. Because of its efficacy and excellent tolerability profile, strong opportunity remains for Singulair in treating this chronic condition. Real-world effectiveness Singulair is not a steroid and it is not an inhaler – it is a different kind of asthma controller based on a mechanism of action that works by blocking the activity in the body of substances called leukotrienes. Blocking leukotrienes reduces asthma symptoms. By taking a tablet of Singulair once a day, many patients may effectively help control their asthma for a full 24 hours. For children, Singulair is available in a simple cherry-flavored pill that they can chew, which may result in an improvement in compliance – that is, children take the drug when they are supposed to and stay on the regimen. Both children and adults appreciate the convenience and simplicity of once-daily Singulair and have found the product easy to work into their everyday routines. As a result, Singulair can help reduce symptoms and improve asthma-related health outcomes in a real-world setting. Broadening the market for Singulair Singulair is well-positioned in the adult and pediatric markets and continues to grow strongly. Physicians are currently prescribing the medicine for mild persistent asthma and as part of a multi-drug regimen for patients who suffer from more severe forms of asthma and require multiple controller medicines. Indeed, recent studies have shown that some patients can reduce their doses of inhaled steroid medication when Singulair is added to their treatment regimen. We also are expanding our geographical reach via our August launch in Japan, the world’s second-largest national market for asthma medicines. Initial sales in Japan have been strong and are trending upwards at much the same rapid rate as was seen in the United States launch in 1997. Beyond the treatment of asthma, Singulair is being investigated for potential use in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, more popularly known as hay fever. Singulair operates with an entirely different mechanism of action from the steroids and antihistamines commonly used for the treatment of this condition and, therefore, will offer another option for sufferers of allergies. Research reveals that between 60 percent and 70 percent of allergic rhinitis sufferers currently return to their doctors requesting a medication change. We filed for regulatory approval worldwide early in 2002 for Singulair in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a common, irritating condition. About 60 million people suffer through the pollen season in the world’s seven major markets, with about 35 million of them also being afflicted with asthma. The allergic rhinitis market in the United States alone exceeds $4 billion.
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