According to Sosei, Novartis has launched the Ultibro Breezhaler indacaterol/glycopyrronium DPI and the Seebri Breezhaler glycopyrronium DPI in China for the treatment of COPD. Huizheng Technology acquired the Chinese licenses for the inhalers from Novartis and has filed applications to add both DPIs to the national health insurance drug list, Sosei reports.
Ultibro Breezhaler is currently available in numerous markets, including the US (as Utibron Neohaler), Japan, and Europe. Pfizer launched the DPI in the UK in 2014. Seebri Breezhaler is also marketed in the US (as Seebri Neohaler), in Japan, and in Europe. According to Sosei, both inhalers are available in more than 90 countries. Novartis licensed glycopyrronium bromide from Sosei and Vectura in 2005.
Sosei Heptares President and CEO Shinichi Tamura commented, “We are delighted that Novartis has launched Ultibro Breezhaler and Seebri Breezhaler in China. In a large, nationally representative sample of adults aged 40 years or older, the estimated overall prevalence of COPD in China in 2014–2015 was 13.6%, indicating that this disease has become a major public-health problem. Strategies aimed at prevention and treatment of COPD are needed urgently.”
Read the Sosei Heptares press release.
