The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim's Stiolto Respimat (tiotropium bromide and olodaterol) once-a-day inhalation spray for long-term treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Boehringer's new product combines the active ingredients of its top-selling respiratory drug Spiriva with the active ingredient in Striverdi.

The German company said it expects the drug to be approved in Europe within the coming weeks. Affecting 210 million people worldwide, COPD is regarded as a growing world health priority and is predicted to become the third leading cause of death by 2030.