Schering-Plough, Novartis in Joint Venture

New Jersey’s Schering-Plough Corp. and Novartis AG are making a once-daily inhaled therapy for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Schering-Plough’s fixed-dose corticosteroid mometasone, the active ingredient in Asmanex, and Novartis’ once-daily beta2-agonist indacaterol will be combined in a single inhalation device, company officials said Monday.

The combined product, with once-daily dosing, has the potential to offer patient benefits including enhanced disease control and convenience, Schering-Plough said.

The firms will share development costs and there will be no initial payments by either party. Novartis and Schering-Plough will co-promote the therapy worldwide.