LONDON (Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Theravance Inc said Friday the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved its Anoro Ellipta treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
"There are many people living with COPD in Japan whose ability to breathe is compromised by their condition," said head of Glaxo's Global Respiratory Franchise Darrell Baker in a statement. "Our goal at GSK is to provide physicians with an expanded range of COPD medicines which enable a patient-centric approach to treatment, as recommended by global guidelines."
Under the terms of their 2002 agreement Theravance will pay a USD10 million milestone payment to Glaxo following the approval.
The product is expected to launch in Japan in the third quarter of 2014.
Shares in Glaxo were trading down 0.6% at 1,573.00 pence Friday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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