June 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug

Administration has granted approval for a treatment from Verona

Pharma for a chronic lung disease that commonly affects

smokers, the U.K.-based company said on Wednesday.

The U.S. FDA's assent for the therapy, to be sold under

the brand Ohtuvayre, is the company's first and provides a new

inhaled non-steroidal treatment for chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease.

COPD, a lifelong condition which causes restricted

airflow and breathing problems, commonly affects cigarette

smokers and is also known as "smoker's lungs".

It affects around 16 million Americans and is the sixth

leading cause of death in the country, according to government

data.