Looks like the first battle in the US Asthma Wars goes to GSK, without even a shot being fired!
AstraZeneca said on Saturday it would not launch its combo inhaler Symbicort in the United States until mid-2007.
The early approval of the drug as a treatment for asthma in patients aged 12 years and older is a potential blow for rival GlaxoSmithKline Plc, which makes the competing asthma treatment Advair.
But the decision to delay the launch means the news is not as negative for Glaxo as it could have been, according to UBS pharmaceuticals analyst David Beadle.
AstraZeneca spokesman Chris Major said the group had decided not to launch immediately because it wanted to demonstrate Symbicort had a shelf life of at least 18 months.
At the moment, it only has enough data to prove 12 months.
Ooops! That sounds a bit like they weren't ready for the early OK from the FDA, doesn't it? Or is there another reason?
Insider is sure that AZ's avuncular head of research, Dr John Patterson, will gently ask a few questions of his team and get to the bottom of it all! Then he will brief his "action man " CEO "Dynamo" Dave Brennan, who (Insider is sure) will be happy to wait.
After all, in these easy times for AZ, what's a years sales amongst friends?
Reuters.
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