The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is sharing this press release from Circassia Pharmaceuticals on FeNO testing to bring you the latest asthma news.

A FeNO test is a quick, simple test that measures airway inflammation. It can help your doctor make sure your are getting proper asthma treatment. Download our free PDF on FeNO testing to learn more about how it can help you.

[PRESS RELEASE]

Aetna Updates Clinical Policy to Include Exhaled Nitric Oxide Giving Over 22 Million Additional Lives Access to FeNO Testing

FeNO Testing Deemed “Medically Necessary” for Asthma Patients

MORRISVILLE, NC – Circassia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Circassia” or “the Company”), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on respiratory disease, is pleased to announce that Aetna, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, has updated its Exhaled Breath Tests Clinical Policy to include the measurement of exhaled nitric oxide as “medically necessary” for the evaluation of asthma and for monitoring the response to long-term control therapy.

Circassia’s innovative NIOX® technology provides objective and accurate fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement of airway inflammation at the clinical point of care. NIOX® is based on the discovery that patients with allergic/eosinophilic airway inflammation, the major underlying characteristic of asthma, generally have higher than normal levels of nitric oxide in their exhaled breath. By measuring the concentration of FeNO, NIOX® enables clinicians to evaluate airway inflammation in patients with underlying asthma, aiding diagnosis and helping guide treatment and reduce exacerbations. NIOX® is the only FeNO device for clinical use at the point of care available in the US.

David Acheson, Senior Vice President, US Commercial, said: “Aetna’s updated policy is excellent news for people with asthma and parents of children who live with asthma. The update includes data from a recent US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report that highlights the use of FeNO testing as a valuable part of comprehensive asthma diagnosis and management. We are pleased to see Aetna update its Clinical Policy Bulletin to include FeNO and provide expanded coverage to its members who have this serious condition.”

Aetna serves more than 22 million medical members and 1.2 million healthcare professionals. The Clinical Policy Bulletin expresses Aetna's determination of whether certain services or supplies are medically necessary, experimental and investigational, or cosmetic. Aetna reaches these conclusions based upon a review of currently available clinical information, including clinical outcome studies in the peer-reviewed published medical literature, regulatory status of the technology, evidence-based guidelines of public health and health research agencies, evidence-based guidelines and positions of leading national health professional organizations, views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas and other relevant factors.

About Asthma
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease that often begins in childhood, but can affect people of any age. The disease is characterized by attacks (exacerbations) of breathlessness and wheezing of varying severity and frequency, which if left untreated can be life-threatening. Asthma is a common condition, with the World Health Organization estimating 235 million people have the condition worldwide. Asthma affects approximately 25 million people in the United States.

About Circassia
Circassia is a world-class specialty pharmaceutical business focused on respiratory disease. Circassia sells its novel, market-leading NIOX® asthma management products directly to specialists in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, and in a wide range of other countries through its network of partners. In 2017, the Company established a commercial collaboration with AstraZeneca in the United States in which it promotes the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment Tudorza®, and has the commercial rights to NDA-stage COPD product Duaklir®. For more information please visit www.circassia.com.

Contact
RNT Communications
Rebecca Novak Tibbitt
Tel: (704) 341-1544