ARADIGM BEGINS ASTHMA TRIAL

Aradigm and APT Pharmaceuticals have begun a midstage trial of their experimental anti-inflammatory treatment for asthma. The trial will study the safety and efficacy of an aerosolized formulation of hydroxychloroquine using Aradaigm's pulmonary delivery system. The Phase II trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multidose study. It will enroll about 100 patients with moderate-persistent asthma.

Aerosolized hydroxychloroquine delivers the drug directly to the lower airways and in preclinical studies has been shown to reduce the time required to achieve improvement in airflow from months, as seen with the oral formulation, to a few days, according to the companies.