Medical

NVA237, a once daily, long acting muscarinic agent (LAMA) DPI for the treatment of COPD, met its primary endpoint of improved bronchodilation compared to placebo after 12 weeks. The glycopyrronium bromide dry powder formulation was licensed to Novartis by Sosei and Vectura in 2005. Novartis announced the results in its first quarter 2011 earnings report, along … [Read more...] about NVA237 meets primary endpoint in Phase 3 study

Dennis Metzger of Albany Medical College (Albany, New York) has presented research at the Society for General Microbiology Spring Conference demonstrating the effectiveness of using interleukin-12 (IL-12) in combination with intranasally-delivered vaccines to boost immune response. The study tested the effectiveness of these vaccines in mice against influenza virus, … [Read more...] about Research shows intranasal vaccination with IL-12 highly effective

According to Meda Pharmaceuticals, a Phase 3 trial has shown that its Dymista nasal spray, a combination formulation of azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate, produced a 40% greater improvement in nasal symptoms than fluticasone alone. Meda is presenting the results at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology … [Read more...] about Dymista 40% better than fluticasone alone in Phase 3 study

Vectura's VR496, an inhaled dry powder formulation of heparin sodium, has produced positive results in a Phase 2 study in cystic fibrosis patients, says the company. The product has received orphan drug status from both the EMA and the FDA. The study involved 77 CF patients, with 90% completing the 4-week treatment period. Patients treated with VR496 experienced … [Read more...] about Positive results for Vectura inhaled heparin formulation

Results from the Prevention Of Exacerbations with Tiotropium in COPD (POET-COPD) study published in the New England Journal of Medicine show a significant reduction in exacerbations for COPD patients treated with tiotropium compared to those treated with salmeterol. The one-year study involved almost 7400 patients with moderate to severe COPD, half of whom were … [Read more...] about Study shows tiotropium better than salmeterol for preventing COPD exacerbations

The Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) has published results of a new survey of US asthma patients. Of the patients surveyed, 100% reported use of a short-acting bronchodilator, and 95% reported that they use some form of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). The high percentage of patients reporting use of inhaled medications is particularly … [Read more...] about New asthma impact survey suggests high inhaler usage

An article published in the March 17, 2011 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine details a study by researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine showing that omalizumab reduces the need for inhaled medications in inner-city children with asthma. Omalizumab is a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody. The 60-week randomized, double-blind study involved … [Read more...] about Omalizumab reduces need for inhaled asthma drugs