EC approves Teva's DuoResp Spiromax
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) said the European Commission approved DuoResp Spiromax budesonide/formoterol to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The company plans to launch the product in the EU this year. DuoResp Spiromax is a combination of budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid, and formoterol, a long-acting adrenergic receptor beta 2 agonist (LABA). The product uses Teva's Spiromax delivery platform, a breath-actuated, dry-powder inhaler that is designed to provide consistent dosing. Teva is not developing DuoResp Spiromax for the U.S. market.
AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) markets Symbicort budesonide/formoterol for asthma and COPD in at least 88 countries worldwide. In the EU, the product uses the pharma's Turbohaler dry powder inhaler. AstraZeneca recorded 2013 Symbicort sales in Europe of $1.5 billion. ...