The logo of Swiss drugmaker Novartis is seen at its headquarters in Basel October 22, 2013.
Credit: Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann
(Reuters) - Patients taking Novartis' inhaled medicine Onbrez Breezhaler for chronic lung disease had benefits similar to those taking GlaxoSmithKline's Seretide, the Swiss drugmaker said on Friday, citing a late stage study.
Also known as QVA149, Onbrez Breezhaler belongs to a new type of dual-action treatments that are expected by analysts to become major sellers.
The Phase IV study in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found Novartis' once-daily drug showed similar benefits in reducing shortness of breath as GSK's Seretide, which must be taken twice daily.
Around 210 million people worldwide suffer from COPD, a disease that causes breathing trouble and chronic coughing, and is sometimes fatal.
(Reporting by Caroline Copley; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Source : http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/25/us-novartis-lung-idUSBREA3O0D920140425
