Medical

At the European Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Hamburg, Germany, Insmed presented data showing that Arikace liposomal amikacin for inhalation improved lung function in CF patients over six cycles of treatment. Each cycle included 28 days in which patients received doses of Arikace, followed by 56 days off therapy, and the total period was 72 weeks. The product also … [Read more...] about Insmed presents positive Phase 2 data for Arikace

A Phase 1 clinical trial of an inhaled dry powder formulation of atropine for the treatment of nerve agent poisoning has been completed successfully, according to MicroDose Therapeutx. MicroDose subsidiary MicroDose Defense Products is developing the product for the US Department of Defense. The study, conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, … [Read more...] about Phase 1 trial of inhaled atropine completed

GSK and Theravance have announced results for two Phase 3 studies of its ICS/LABA combo DPI Relovair for the treatment of COPD. The product combines fluticasone furoate and vilanterol. The companies said that the studies demonstrated statistically significant change in 0-4 hour weighted mean FEV1 and trough FEV1 for patients treated with Relovair compared with … [Read more...] about Two Phase 3 studies of Relovair completed

Data presented at the 2011 American Thoracic Society (ATS) meeting by Novartis regarding combined indacaterol and tiotropium therapy for COPD demonstrate that the LABA/LAMA combination produced greater improvement in lung function than tiotropium alone. Novartis's indacaterol product, called Onbrez Breezhaler, was approved by the EU in 2009 but has not yet been … [Read more...] about Novartis presents new data on indacaterol/tiotropium combination therapy

A report by the American Lung Association in California claims that a "car of the future" scenario in which zero emission vehicles replace a large percentage of the existing fleet of cars in the state would lead to a greater than 70% reduction in asthma and prevent up to 8400 asthma attacks and 420 premature deaths. According to the report, 7 of the top 10 most … [Read more...] about Report concludes that clean cars would reduce asthma by more than 70% in California

An article in the May 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine finds leukotriene-receptor antagonists (LTRAs) such as montelukast (Singulair) as effective as ICS as a first-line treatment for asthma and as effective as LABAs as an add-on for those already taking inhaled corticosteroids in real-world trials. The researchers from the University of East Anglia … [Read more...] about Research finds leukotriene antagonists as effective as inhaled steroids

A Phase 2 clinical trial of its bepotastine besilate nasal spray for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis has demonstrated significantly significant improvement in total nasal symptoms compared to placebo, announced ISTA Pharmaceuticals. The study involved approximately 600 patients suffering from seasonal allergy symptoms caused by mountain cedar pollen. … [Read more...] about Positive Phase 2 results for ISTA’s bepotastine besilate nasal spray