Medical

Pharmaxis has announced that two Phase 3 trials of its Bronchitol inhaled mannitol in patients with cystic fibrosis demonstrated significant improvement in lung function with Bronchitol compared to the control group. The company also cites positive patient response to the DPI. Bronchitol has received orphan drug status in both the US and Europe. Read the … [Read more...] about Positive results for Pharmaxis’s Bronchitol for CF

Data presented at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference by Transave shows "improved lung function with significant reduction in bacterial density" for CF patients treated with Arikace liposomal amikacin for inhalation. An affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation provided almost $4 million for the development of Arikace. The inhalation … [Read more...] about Transave reports positive results for Arikace

According to VentiRx Pharmaceuticals, a Phase I clinical trial of its VTX-1463 nasal spray for the treatment of allergic rhinitis demonstrated that once-weekly administration of the drug produced a significantly greater reduction in total nasal symptom scores than did a placebo. VTX-1463 is a selective toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) agonist. Read the … [Read more...] about Positive results for VTX-1463 nasal spray

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that the Relovair fluticasone furoate/vilanterol trifenatate DPI it is developing with Theravance showed good results in a Phase II study involving 60 COPD patients. Studies of the component drugs for asthma also demonstrated efficacy and safety, according to GSK. Phase III studies for both COPD and asthma are underway. Read the … [Read more...] about Positive Phase II results for Relovair dry powder inhaler

A study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that a combination of tiotropium bromide with a low dose of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) provides better asthma control than doubling the dose of ICS and is as effective as a salmeterol/ICS combination. Patients taking the tiotropium combination gained … [Read more...] about NHLBI study shows tiotropium/ICS combo effective for asthma

Novartis has announced that its Phase III INSIST study shows that its once-daily Onbrez Breezhaler indacaterol DPI produces better bronchodilation in COPD patients than does twice-daily salmeterol. Onbrez also reduced the need for rescue medication, according to the data presented. The FDA has requested additional clinical data from Novartis for consideration of … [Read more...] about Phase III data shows Onbrez better for COPD than salmeterol

A PD study has shown no statistically significant difference in pulmonary artery pressure effects of Levadex inhaled dihydroergotamine (DHE) compared to placebo, according to MAP Pharmaceutical. The inhaled formulation had a smaller effect on pulmonary artery pressure than IV DHE. MAP has said that it intends to submit an NDA for Levadex for the treatment of … [Read more...] about MAP announces Levadex trial results

A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that teenagers who used acetaminophen at least once a month have a 250% higher  risk of developing asthma than do non-users and nearly as great an increased risk of developing rhinoconjunctivitis. Read the abstract. … [Read more...] about Acetaminophen (paracetamol) doubles asthma risk