AstraZeneca's lung disease treatment gets FDA nod

The drug Breztri Aerosphere is being approved as a maintenance treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death globally, AstraZeneca said. Known as "smoker's lung", COPD is a progressively worsening and potentially deadly condition that affects more than 380 million people worldwide, primarily caused by smoking, but also by occupational hazards such as air pollution or chemical fumes. The approval for AstraZeneca comes at a time when the British drugmaker is seeking to catch up with the runaway success of rival Glaxosmithkline's Trelegy Ellipta drug.