Theravance, GSK to start approval process for COPD drug by end of year

Theravance CEO Rick Winningham.

Theravance Inc. and partner GlaxoSmithKline wrapped up clinical trials around a drug that the companies could start submitting for regulatory approval later this year for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The once-a-day drug — called UMEC/VI for the molecules umeclidinium bromide and vilanterol — is one in a series of treatments that GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and South San Francisco-based Theravance (NASDAQ: THRX) hope to eventually sell to asthma or COPD patients. GSK and Theravance said Friday that they would start to submit UMEC/VI for regulatory approval "from the end of 2012."