WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials say they have
approved a new inhaler medicine from Novartis Pharmaceuticals for people
suffering from a chronic lung disease.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the Arcapta
Neohaler as a once-daily therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a
condition that includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The
disease is most commonly caused by cigarette smoking. Symptoms include cough,
phlegm and shortness of breath.

Arcapta is not approved for other respiratory symptoms like
asthma.

The drug includes a boxed warning that it can increase the
risk of asthma-related death. The warning appears on all drugs in the
long-acting class of drugs.

An FDA advisory panel previously recommended the agency
approve the drug. The drug is already approved in Europe and Japan.

Novartis is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.