Nycomed and Almirall will become marketing partners for the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment Daxas. The two firms have entered into a co-branding agreement covering Spain for Daxas (roflumilast), Nycomed's once-daily COPD tablet, according to Pharma Times.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nycomed will receive an undisclosed upfront fee from Almirall, which will be exclusively promoting a second brand of the phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzyme inhibitor.

Almirall's chief operating officer Luciano Conde said the deal "reinforces our portfolio with a first-in-class product and allows us to leverage our respiratory capabilities and expertise." He added that the product "has a strong strategic fit in our business and is fully complementary with other bronchodilator treatments in COPD such as our R&D product aclidinium bromide which is expected to be filed this year."