June 11 (Reuters) - An advisory committee to the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration recommended approval on Thursday ofGlaxoSmithKline Plc's drug for severe asthma in patientsaged 18 and older.
The panel voted 10 to 4 against approving the drug,mepolizumab, in children aged 12 to 17.
The FDA is not obliged to follow the advice of its advisorypanels but typically does so.
If approved, the drug would be marketed under the trade nameNucala. It would be the first new biologic drug for severeasthma to be approved in more than a decade.
(Reporting by Toni Clarke in Washington; Editing by Eric Beech)