Tolebuterol

The Tolebuterol patch or Hokunalin® Tape is the world’s first transdermal long-acting b2 agonist preparation, which was co-developed by Abbott Japan Co., Ltd. and Nitto Denko Corporation, and has been available since December 1998. Hokunalin® Tape contains tulobuterol as the active ingredient, and is effective for 24 hours. It is indicated for "treatment of signs/symptoms such as dyspnea caused by airway obstruction due to bronchial asthma, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema". In the guidelines for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma, Hokunalin® Tape is recommended as a long-acting bronchodilator. Hokunalin® Tape received the Science and Technology Agency Director-General’s award in 1998 and the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan’s Drug Discovery Research Award in 2001.