Sept 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug

Administration has approved Novartis' oral treatment

for patients with type of chronic inflammatory skin disease, the

company said on Tuesday.

The twice-daily pill, Rhapsido, is approved for patients who

have symptoms of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) despite

standard therapies.

CSU is a long-term skin condition without a known cause,

characterized by recurring hives - itchy, red welts - and

sometimes swelling, lasting six weeks or more.

Novartis has completed regulatory submissions in the

European Union and Japan, and a priority review has been granted

in China, it said.