PARI's EFlow Delivers Alnylam RNAi Therapeutic In Phase II Study

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 18 Apr 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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An optimized PARI eFlow platform nebulizer will be delivering Alnylam's ALN-RSV01 in a Phase II human clinical trial that has begun enrolling patients. ALN-RSV01 is a RNAi therapeutic being developed as a treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, the leading cause of pediatric hospitalization in the U.S. and a prevalent infection in immune-compromised adults. RSV currently does not have a viable treatment option.

"The progression into Phase II clinical trials with Alnylam's therapeutic is significant as it is the first RNAi program in clinical trials using inhalation. We are seeing a number of companies turn to advanced nebulization with our eFlow platform, because the flexibility allows the development of new respiratory therapies that are delivered to the lungs in a faster, more effective manner," said Geoff A. Hunziker, President of eFlow LLC.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious virus that causes infections in the upper and lower respiratory tract associated with predictable seasonal outbreaks worldwide. RSV infection is the most common cause for infant hospitalization (more than 100,000 hospitalizations annually in the U.S.), and the virus is a significant pathogen in the elderly. The RNAi therapeutic agent ALN-RSV01 is a small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) targeting the messenger RNA of the RSV N gene to prevent viral replication. To deliver ALN-RSV01 to the site of infection, the RNA therapeutic is being administered as an aerosol in a highly efficient pulmonary delivery system, an optimized eFlow platform nebulizer, with high drug output, optimized droplet size, and low residual drug loss.

For more information on the Phase II study, visit http://www.alnylam.com.

About eFlow

eFlow, an electronic, portable nebulizer platform, enables extremely efficient aerosolization of liquid medications via a vibrating, perforated membrane. Compared to other nebulizer systems, eFlow can produce aerosols with a very high density of active drug, a precisely defined droplet size, and a high proportion of respirable droplets delivered in the shortest possible amount of time. Combined with its silent mode of operation, small size (it fits in the palm of your hand), light weight, and battery use, eFlow helps reduce the burden of taking daily inhaled treatments.

About PARI Pharma

PARI Pharma develops aerosol delivery devices and inhaled therapies. Based on PARI's 100-year history working with aerosols, PARI Pharma specializes in treatments for pulmonary and nasal administration optimized to advanced delivery platforms, such as eFlow.

Focusing on comprehensive inhalation therapy development, including optimized nebulizer formulations, analytics, and aerosol characterization, PARI Pharma has several clinical development programs ongoing, either partnered or proprietary. PARI Pharma, a PARI Medical Holding company, is located in Munich, Germany, with a major presence in the United States. Online at http://www.paripharma.com

PARI Pharma
http://www.paripharma.com