Gilead Sciences Releases Promising Results on Aztreonam

January 5, 2007

Gilead Sciences Inc. has released promising results from an experimental new antibiotic treatment for people with cystic fibrosis. The Phase 3 multi-center trial, carried out in collaboration with the CF Foundation, involved 247 volunteers with both CF and Pseudomonas lung infections. Volunteers were given inhaled tobramycin for 28 days, then given either placebo or an inhaled form of aztreonam for 28 days using the PARI eFlow^® nebulizer.

The researchers found that those volunteers who received aztreonam could do without inhaled or intravenous antibiotic treatments for a significant amount of time longer than those who received the placebo treatment. There was no significant difference in the number of side effects in the two groups. A 6-month open-label study, permitting all trial participants to receive the inhaled aztreonam, is on-going. A trial of the inhaled aztreonam is also being conducted in volunteers with CF who do not use inhaled tobramycin regularly. Click here for more information on this trial.

This product was originally referred to as Corus 1020 (Aztreonam) and was being developed by the Corus Pharmaceutical Company in Seattle, Washington. Last summer Gilead Sciences purchased Corus. Gilead Sciences is one of the largest and most successful biotechnology companies in the world. They are not only developing this important antibiotic but are committed to developing other therapeutics for CF.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its drug discovery and development affiliate, CFFT, are especially excited to see the continued progress of this potentially important antibiotic since the early development of the product was enabled by a Therapeutics Development Award from the CFFT.