BRONCHITOL CYSTIC FIBROSIS STUDY BEGINS

Pharmaxis has reported that a Phase II clinical trial in patients with cystic fibrosis has dosed its first patients. The study is designed to determine the optimal dose of the mucus-clearing agent Bronchitol, and is being conducted in seven hospitals throughout Canada.

All patients in the study will receive the same dose of Bronchitol twice daily for two weeks, then will be randomized into three groups. Once randomized, patients will receive two weeks treatment at one of three different doses followed by a week without Bronchitol, until all three doses have been evaluated. The trial will measure changes in respiratory function, quality of life and the general health of the patient at each dose. Full patient recruitment is expected to take six months.