Asthma Healing

The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company has won approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the first asthma drug inhaler of its type that is free of a propellant thought to harm the ozone layer. The inhaler made by 3M delivers the drug albuterol without using chlorofluorocarbons, or CFC's. The Schering-Plough Corporation will market and distribute the so-called metered dose inhaler in the United States under the brand name Proventil HFA on behalf of 3M's pharmaceutical division.