Sanofi, European Union green light for drug for smokers' lungs.Dupixent has been approved by the European Commission for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The European Union has given the green light for broader use of Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent. The injectable medicine is intended for those suffering from a chronic lung disease known as “smoker’s lung.” Approval is still pending in the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration — which often approves new treatments before the European Union — has taken time until September 27, asking for more information on the drug’s effectiveness.

Dupixent has been approved by the European Commission for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients who cannot be helped by standard inhaled medications, Sanofi said in a statement. The move follows a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which gave a positive opinion in May. COPD affects smokers mostly in Western countries and is a potentially deadly condition that limits airflow and causes breathing problems. The disease affects nearly 16 million adults in the United States and more than 35 million people in Europe, according to government data.