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A new treatment may be available for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, following a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel making a positive recommendation.

The medication, Breo Ellipta, involves a corticosteroid and bronchodilator. It only needs to be taken once a day, which makers Glaxo and Theravance hope make it more attractive to patients.

There are two other inhaled corticosteroid/Long-Acting Beta Antagonist (LABA) combination products for COPD patients, Advair Diskus and Symbicort, but both are administered twice a day.

A final decision from the FDA is expected in late 2013. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.