Denmark approves generic copy of GSK’s top-selling lung drug

By Ben Hirschler and Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) – Denmark has approved the sale of a generic copy of GlaxoSmithKline's $8 billion-a-year inhaled lung drug Advair, threatening future sales of the British firm's biggest product. Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drugmaker Novartis, and Vectura, another British company, said on Wednesday they had received approval from Danish regulators for AirFluSal Forspiro, which was previously known as VR315. The green light marks the first approval of the product in Europe and analysts said more European approvals were likely to follow, with other Nordic countries and Germany seen among initial markets. Sandoz has completed authorization procedures in a further seven European countries but the group said the timing of final approvals in these markets would depend on national health authorities.