Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced positive data from its phase-2b clinical trial with Aeroquin (a novel aerosol formulation of levofloxacin, MP-376) in cystic fibrosis (CF). Trial results showed that nebulized Aeroquin met the primary endpoint of reducing bacterial counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in sputum after 28 days of dosing versus placebo.

Clinically and statistically significant improvements versus placebo were also seen in a number of important clinical endpoints, including FEV1, percent predicted FEV1, FEF25-75 (all measures of respiratory function) and time to need for anti-pseudomonal antibiotics (a measure of exacerbations). Both once and twice-daily dosing of Aeroquin showed activity in this trial, with higher doses showing improved responses. Aeroquin was well tolerated and no significant change in antibiotic resistance was observed in this study. Detailed results will be presented at a major respiratory meeting in the near future.

The phase-2b, multi-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Mpex 204) studied 151 CF patients to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of inhaled Aeroquin administered for 28 days using an Investigational eFlow Nebulizer System (PARI Pharma GmbH). Patients were then followed for an additional 28 days after completion of dosing. The trial was conducted in the U.S., Germany and the Netherlands.

To ensure that results from this trial were as predictive as possible for a future phase-3 programme, Mpex 204 enrolled patients that have recently received multiple courses of inhaled antibiotics and in most cases were already receiving other medication shown to improve lung function and reduce exacerbations. To be eligible for the trial, CF patients had to have received at least three 28 day cycles of other inhaled antibiotic therapy over the previous 12 months. Patients were also allowed to remain on all other stable CF therapies during the study.

"The results of this study are very gratifying, particularly given the heavily treated nature of the patients included in this trial," stated Dr Jeff Loutit, chief medical officer of Mpex Pharmaceuticals. "It is difficult for new agents to show benefit on top of state-of-the-art care in CF, and generating statistically significant results across a broad range of key endpoints in this phase-2b study bodes well for success in phase-3."

"We thank the participating CF patients and physicians for helping make this trial a success," stated Daniel Burgess, president and CEO of Mpex Pharmaceuticals. "We are eager to meet with CF experts and regulatory authorities in the US and Europe to discuss these results and determine the most expeditious path to move Aeroquin through phase-3 development."

Patients with CF suffer from chronic infections of the lower respiratory tract that can be caused by multiple bacteria, including P. aeruginosa. Chronic pulmonary infection is associated with a decrease in lung function over time caused by inflammation arising from bacteria and their toxins. Periodic exacerbations in the lung result from bacterial overgrowth, and these exacerbations are implicated as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in CF patients.

MP-376 is a proprietary formulation of levofloxacin that has been optimized for aerosol delivery using a customized Investigational eFlow Nebulizer System (PARI Pharma GmbH). Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that has been widely used in a variety of indications for over a decade and has established safety and efficacy when administered orally or intravenously against many bacterial pathogens, including P. aeruginosa.

Mpex Pharma is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to develop important new therapies to combat the growing issue of antibiotic resistance.