CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 25 (UPI) -- U.S. firms Alkermes and Indevus said Wednesday thay have begun a phase 2a trial of their potential drug ALKS 27 to treat a common lung disorder.
The companies said they would test the inhaled formulation of trospium chloride in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The treatment is a so-called muscarinic receptor antagonist, designed to relax the smooth muscle tissue to improve airflow in COPD patients.
"The advancement of ALKS 27 in the clinic is an important step forward for the program," stated Elliot Ehrich, Alkermes' chief medical officer. "By combining our proprietary AIR technology and Indevus' trospium chloride, a molecule with a known safety profile and proven efficacy in an approved indication, we hope to bring forward a more patient-friendly treatment option for people with COPD."
COPD affects more than 12 million adults in the United States, the companies said.
