GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance are giving analysts a thumbs-up on their late-stage studies of Relovair, the next-gen COPD successor to Advair. Investigators say that the drug bested a placebo in the trials. A head-to-head trial pitting Relovair against Advair is underway. "Successful completion of these two studies is an important milestone in the development of Relovair for COPD," said Darrell Baker, head of Glaxo's respiratory medicine development program. "These data will be reviewed together with the larger 12-month exacerbation studies still under way, to develop a complete evaluation of Relovair in treating patients with COPD." Report