Sunovion Pharma acquires rights in US to Utibron Neohaler (indacaterol + glycopyrrolate),Seebri Neohaler (glycopyrrolate) and Arcapta Neohaler (indacaterol) from Novartis.

Sunovion Pharma announces that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Novartis for the US commercialization rights to three US approved medicines, Utibron Neohaler (indacaterol + glycopyrrolate inhalation powder) approved in 2015, Seebri Neohaler (glycopyrrolate inhalation powder) approved in 2015 and Arcapta Neohaler (indacaterol inhalation powder) approved in 2011 which are indicated for the long term maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Sunovion will by this transaction have the broadest COPD portfolio in the US providing handheld and nebulized treatment options for COPD. Sunovion plans to bring Utibron Neohaler and Seebri Neohaler to the market in 2017. Novartis retains the commercialization rights to these three drugs outside the US.

Long acting bronchodilators currently are the first line standard of care maintenance therapy for symptomatic patients with COPD. Within that class there long acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) and long acting beta agonists (LABAs) both of which are widely used. LAMA and LABA medicines dilate or open the airways to the lungs to prevent symptoms, such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness ,and shortness of breath.Combining a LAMA and a LABA may offer additional benefits including increased efficacy compared with a LAMA or LABA alone.