Swiss drugmaker Novartis said it has applied to start selling its experimental drug to treat smoker's cough -- which afflicts 80 million people worldwide -- after tests showed that it helped patients breathe more easily. Novartis has carried out late-stage trials for the drug, known as NVA237, because it wants to tap into the lucrative market for respiratory drugs at a time when it is facing increasing competition for its top-selling products from generic rivals. Analysts say Novartis could earn billions of dollars if its treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), commonly known as smoker's cough, win regulatory approval. NVA237 alone could potentially add $500 million in annual sales.
