Schering-Plough, Novartis to develop once-daily inhaled combination therapy for asthma, COPD

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 14 - Schering-Plough Corp. and Novartis formed a global collaboration to develop and commercialize a once-daily inhaled fixed-dose combination therapy for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The product combines Schering-Plough's once-daily inhaled corticosteroid mometasone, the active ingredient in the inhaled asthma treatment Asmanex, and Novartis' once-daily beta2-agonist indacaterol (QAB149) in a single inhalation device, possibly Schering-Plough's Twisthaler.

"Asthma and COPD patients often have to use more than one treatment and are looking for new, effective and easier ways to control their symptoms," Schering-Plough chief medical officer Robert J. Spiegel said in a company news release.

"The combination of mometasone and indacaterol has the potential to enhance current therapy and help improve the quality of life for patients."

The agreement calls for the two companies to share development costs and co-promote the combination product worldwide, with no initial payments by either party. Schering-Plough and Novartis have had a long-term collaboration since April 2003.

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory lung disease, affects 300 million people worldwide. COPD, the world's fourth largest cause of death, is an irreversible and chronic obstruction of the airways.

The worldwide respiratory market for therapies to treat asthma and COPD is expected to grow to $22 billion by 2015, according to the release.

Schering-Plough is a global science-based health care company based in Kenilworth, N.J.

Novartis is a Basel, Switzerland, pharmaceutical company.

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