Fresh from Boomer's newsletter

[Guest guest]

Hi,

since we have so many newbies on the list I'd like to recommend once again

to subscribe the newsletter from the Boomer Esiason Foundation. It's full of

info about what's going on in CF research and is published at least once a

week.

To subscribe go to www.esiason.org

Peace

Torsten, dad of Fiona 6wcf and Sebastian 4months wocf

e-mail: torstenkrafft@...

Health & Medicine Week

October 20, 2003

HEADLINE: CYSTIC FIBROSIS: Safety and efficacy study planned for potential

cystic fibrosis treatment

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has begun a multi-center, phase IIa safety and

efficacy study for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) with its

proprietary

agent SPI-8811.

The Sucampo study will randomize 24-30 patients with documented CF into

three, open-label, dose-escalating cohorts at four sites throughout the

United

States. At least eight subjects will complete dosing in each cohort.

The company is working closely with the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutic

Development Network on the study. The network was established by the Cystic

Fibrosis Foundation to conduct early-phase clinical studies (phase I and II)

with novel therapies for CF.

CF is caused by a defective chloride channel called the cystic fibrosis

transmembrane regulator, which prevents the transport of chloride ions

between

cells. The defect causes the body to develop thick, sticky mucous in the

lung,

pancreas, and liver, and increases morbidity and mortality in CF patients.

SPI-8811 is an ion transport modulator that facilitates transport of

chloride

ions across cell membranes by a process different from the defective one in

CF

patients. The agent's ability to activate chloride transport should reduce

mucous viscosity and allow increased clearance of mucous in the lungs,

pancreas,

and liver.

" Cystic fibrosis is a devastating disease with many dire effects, " said

Sucampo chief executive officer Myra L. Patchen, PhD " This research holds a

special place in our organization and we hope that SPI-8811 will prove

beneficial in treating this terrible disease. "

SPI-8811 received orphan drug status for use in treating CF from the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2002. The FDA designation

encourages research and development of new therapies for the more than 5,000

orphan (rare) diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 U.S. residents,

diseases

that affect 20 million Americans in total.

Espicom Business Intelligence

October 16, 2003

HEADLINE: Corus' CF drug advancing to Phase II trials

Corus Pharma has initiated a Phase II study of Corus 1020 (aztreonam

formulated for inhalation) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients to evaluate

efficacy, safety and tolerability. Results from the recently completed Phase

I

studies, which will be presented at the 17th Annual North American Cystic

Fibrosis Conference, being held from 16th to 19th October, in Anaheim, CA,

indicate that Corus 1020 was well-tolerated in CF patients and had no

serious

adverse effects.

The US multi-centre, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled Phase II study

will be conducted with the help of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Therapeutics

Development Network. Aztreonam is an antibiotic that has a broad spectrum of

activity against gram-negative bacteria. Corus has formulated the product to

try

to improve airway tolerability. The product will be delivered directly to

the

lung to increase the concentration of the drug at the site of infection

using

Pari's eFlow inhalation technology.