Heading Towards New Inhalable Antibiotics: PARI GmbH Agrees to Cooperate with Corus Pharma
13.05.2002, 18:21
STARNBERG, Germany, 13 May 2002 (APROTEXT) Since 22 February2002, PARI GmbH, a Starnberg-based company specialising ineffective inhalation, has been cooperating with Salus Pharma, asubsidiary of Corus Pharma based in Seattle (USA) on thedevelopment of inhalable antiobiotics. The aim of thecooperation is the registration of an inhalable drugformulation, developed by PARI, of the antiobiotic Aztreonam fortargeted treatment of bacterial infections which occur inconditions like mucoviscidosis (cystic fibrosis) and otherdiseases of the respiratory system like bronchiectasia orpulmonary emphysema. PARI has made available its specialised know-how inpharmaceutical development and the characterisation of existingand new drug formulations, as well as of the innovativeelectronic inhalation technology e-FlowTM. The cooperationagreement entails the payment of the development costs, bonusesfor reaching development milestones and royalties for futuredrug sales.
The antibiotic Aztreonam has a broad action spectrum againstgram- negative bacteria like the problem bacteria pseudomonasaeruginosa. Unlike antibiotics administered orally or byinjection or drip, inhalation allows a higher drug concentrationto be administered in the immediate vicinity of the infection,i.e. in the lungs. This leads to more effective treatment ofthe infection with a lower overall dose of the drug.
The advantages of the e-FlowTM technology lie in the highutilisation of the inhalable active agent, which is due to thelow proportion of residual active agent remaining in theinhaler. This means that small quantities of liquid can beadministered and the inhalation time can be reduced as afunction of the drug concentration. The latter requires"patient compliance", in other words the monitoring of useaccording to the instructions, and this improves the success ofthe therapy. With a target inhalation time of three to fourminutes, the e-FlowTM technology provides a faster and moreeffective method for administering drugs than current inhalationtherapies, which still require 15 to 20 minutes per session."We are pleased to be working on a development programme whichwill optimise the treatment of patients with diseases of therespiratory system", says Dr. Martin Knoch, Managing Director ofPARI GmbH. "Together with Corus Pharma, we can achieve this bycombining the use of innovative technologies for administeringthe drugs, such as e- FlowTM, with new formulations, which PARI'sPharmaceuticals division is developing".
In the field of inhalation systems, PARI has already filedeleven patents for the new e-FlowTM technology. In addition toits existing nebulizer production line, the company is planningto introduce the electronic e-FlowTM inhalation device for usewith existing drugs to combat asthma, chronic-obstructivebronchitis (COPD) and other diseases of the respiratory system. "There is a major requirement for additional antibiotics fortreatment of patients with cystic fibrosis and lung infections.We welcome this programme because it gives us access to thelatest technology", says Dr. Bruce Montgomery, Managing Directorof Corus Pharma. "The combination of Aztreonam and the e-FlowTMcan lead to an inhaled antibiotic that supplements existingproducts and will probably reduce the time that patients requirefor their treatment in comparison to conventional therapies". PARI has expanded its Aerosol Research Institute into the fieldof pharmaceutical technology and analysis in recent yearsthrough its Pharmaceuticals Division. This means that thecompany has a team of highly-qualified employees, who areworking on improving existing and new drug formulations forinhalation, and developing appropriate research methods. Theresearch work in this field has so far led to three patentsbeing filed. "There is a great need for additional antibiotics to supportpatients with cystic fibrosis," said Dr. Bruce Montgomery, CEOfor Corus Pharma. "The combination of Corus 1020 and e-Flow? notonly provides an antibiotic that is complimentary to existingproducts, it also reduces the amount of time patients spend ontheir treatment, thus improving quality of life." Contact: Dr. Johannes-Christoph Stein +49-89-742 846-69 +49-89-742 846-50, Dr. Karen Stein Am Hackelanger 17 b 81241 MünchenFon: 089/820 845 30 Fax: 089/820 845 31 steinmuenchen@aol.com,Dr. Karen Stein Am Hackelanger 17 b 81241 Munich Phone: 089/820845 30, Fax: 089/820 845 31, steinmuenchen@aol.com Dr. KarenStein Am Hackelanger 17 b 81241 München Fon: 089/820 845 30, Fax:089/820 845 31, e-mail: steinmuenchen@aol.com
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