Novartis combi approach will strengthen COPD drug franchise
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
While Novartis has attracted US and Japanese approvals for its COPD treatment indacaterol (inhalation powder), which will be marketed as Arcapta Neohaler and Onbrez Inhalation, respectively, it is the compound's potential in combination therapies that will underpin any blockbuster opportunity (ScripIntelligence.com, 4 July, 2011 and 4 July, 2011). Indacaterol's new approvals follow its EU authorisation as Onbrez Breezhaler in December 2009 (ScripIntelligence.com, 8 December 2009).