Dive Brief:
- There are about 3 million patients in the UK with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Novartis will retain responsibility for manufacturing, sales, and distribution of its two COPD drugs -- Seebri (glycopyrronium) and Ultibro (indaceterol/glycopyrronium) -- while Pfizer takes over all marketing efforts in the UK.
- Novartis will make sure that its COPD treatments are available in sufficient quantity to meet British demand, but will focus its own resources on oncology, wet AMD, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases.
Dive Insight:
Seebri has been available in the UK since November 2012, but the introduction of Ultibro represents a new product launch. Pfizer says that it will begin marketing the drug in the UK "in due time."
In addition to focusing on manufacturing and distribution, Novartis will also maintain all responsibilities related to regulatory activities, pharmacovigilance, and medical information commitments for its COPD drugs.