(Removes paragraph on QVA149, which refers to UltibroBreezhaler not Onbrez Breezhaler)
ZURICH, April 25 (Reuters) - Patients taking Novartis' inhaled medicine Onbrez Breezhaler for chronic lungdisease had benefits similar to those taking GlaxoSmithKline's Seretide, the Swiss drugmaker said on Friday, citing alate stage study.
The Phase IV study in patients with moderate chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found Novartis' once-dailydrug showed similar benefits in reducing shortness of breath asGSK's Seretide, which must be taken twice daily.
Around 210 million people worldwide suffer from COPD, adisease that causes breathing trouble and chronic coughing, andis sometimes fatal. (Reporting by Caroline Copley; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and JaneBaird)