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(Alliance News) - Synairgen PLC on Friday said it will present biomarker data from the first part of its ongoing second-phase trial of antiviral therapy inhaled interferon beta in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Madrid, Spain.
The respiratory drug discovery and development company said will present at the European Respiratory Society international congress being held between Saturday and Tuesday next week.
Synairgen's two-part second-phase trial, called SG015, has been designed to assess inhaled interferon beta in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients when they have a cold or flu infection.
The data being presented are from the first part of the study, in which patients were treated with inhaled beta when they did not have a cold or flu infection.
Synairgen said analysis of samples from the lung shows that treatment with interferon beta boosted the lungs' antiviral defences, increasing Synairgen's confidence in the likelihood of a positive outcome in the second part of the study in which inhaled interferon beta is being assessed when patients have a confirmed respiratory virus infection.
"Respiratory virus infections, such as the common cold and flu, are a major cause of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are the second most common cause of unplanned hospital admission in England, so there is a real need for a treatment that helps patients when they have a cold or flu infection," explained Chief Investigator Tom Wilkinson.
"The trial is progressing well, and we are on track to complete the study during this coming winter virus season," added Wilkinson.
Synairgen shares were trading 1.6% lower in London on Friday at 9.10 pence each.
By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com
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