Forest announces availability of Daliresp

NEW YORK — A drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by Forest Labs will be available by the middle of this month, Forest said Thursday.

Daliresp (roflumilast) recently received approval from the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment to reduce the risk of exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations.

Forest said Daliresp, a daily oral tablet, is the first and only approved drug in its class, known as selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors.