WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new once-a-day inhaler from GlaxoSmithKline PLC that combines two drugs to treat lung disease.
The agency cleared the Anoro Ellipta for daily use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, often called smoker’s cough. The lung ailment can cause a number of breathing problems, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Glaxo says the inhaler is the first once-a-day product to combine two drugs that expand the bronchial tubes to the lungs. The drug carries a warning that it is not approved for asthma.
Glaxo, a leader in respiratory medicine, co-developed the drug with San Francisco-based Theravance Inc. In May the companies received approval for another inhaler drug called Breo Ellipta.
London-based Glaxo already also sells the asthma treatment Advair, its best-selling product.