Once-daily prescription medicine for COPD now available throughout the U.S.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) today announced that BREO ELLIPTA, a once-daily prescription medicine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is now available to pharmacies throughout the U.S.

BREO ELLIPTA is a combination of the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), fluticasone furoate "FF", and the long-acting beta₂-agonist (LABA), vilanterol "VI" (FF/VI 100/25 mcg). It is indicated for the long-term, once-daily, maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. BREO ELLIPTA is also indicated to reduce exacerbations of COPD in patients with a history of exacerbations. BREO ELLIPTA is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm or for the treatment of asthma.

"Patients and physicians have a new treatment option with BREO ELLIPTA, the first once-daily ICS/LABA for the maintenance treatment of COPD," said Jorge Bartolome, Senior Vice President of GSK Respiratory Business Unit in the U.S. "This new option for healthcare providers to prescribe is good news for the millions of people in the U.S. affected by COPD." 

"Launching BREO ELLIPTA and making this important new medicine available to COPD patients is a significant milestone, which has been built upon many years of research and development," said Rick E Winningham, Chief Executive Officer of Theravance. "We, like GSK, are proud to make the option of treatment with BREO ELLIPTA a reality for appropriate patients in the U.S."

Under the terms of its 2002 LABA collaboration agreement with GSK, Theravance agreed to make a milestone payment of $30 million (USD) to GSK following the launch of BREO ELLIPTA in the U.S. 

The FDA approved BREO ELLIPTA on May 10, 2013.