FDA nod for Verona's Ohtuvayre could 'change treatment paradigm for COPD'

Shares in Verona Pharma (Nasdaq: VRNA) closed nearly 7% higher on Wednesday.

The Anglo-American company earlier announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Ohtuvayre is the first inhaled product with a novel mechanism of action available for the maintenance treatment of COPD in more than 20 years. It is a first-in-class selective dual inhibitor of the enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE3 and PDE4) that combines bronchodilator and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory effects in one molecule.