New Delhi : Drug major Lupin and Novartis Healthcare have inked a co-marketing agreement under which Lupin will market Novartis' inhaler, used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, under the brand name Loftair in India.

As part of the pact, Lupin would be using its own specialty field force to promote Loftair inhaler.

Novartis will continue to market Indacaterol/ Glycopyrronium 110mcg/ 50mcg inhaler under its brand name Sequadra through its own sales force, Lupin said in a statement.

"We are confident that this partnership for Loftair will enable us to further consolidate and strengthen our market leadership within the Indian COPD, Anti-Asthma, Inhalation therapy segments," Lupin India Region Formulations Group President Shakti Chakraborty said.

The company had earlier entered into a similar agreement with Novartis to market asthma drug Onbrez.

According to IMS sales data, Lupin is ranked second with 12.4 per cent market share of the overall anti-asthma segment within the Indian pharmaceutical market.

Lupin shares today ended at Rs 1,517.50 apiece on the BSE, down 1.51 per cent from previous close.