06/07/06

PARI Respiratory Equipment, Midlothian, Va, and BOC, Murray Hill, NJ, have signed an agreement to study the effects of gas-enabled drug delivery systems using Heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen that is three times lighter than air, making it easier for patients with compromised lung function to breathe. 
 
The companies hope that the creation of an innovative Heliox delivery device with a customized nebulizer will help critically ill patients by delivering oxygen and aerosol to the lungs with less effort than breathing air. “We’re delighted that PARI shares our vision of novel, easy to use drug delivery systems that will enable doctors to safely and reliably provide potentially lifesaving therapies,” said Brad Walker, managing director of BOC’s Medical Division.
 
The goal is to improve the delivery range of aerosol therapies used to treat exacerbations of conditions such as asthma, COPD, and bronchiolitis. “Our collaboration with BOC marks an important step towards a commercially available aerosol delivery system that optimizes results using gases other than air or enriched oxygen,” said Werner Gutmann, president of PARI. “We are certain that PARI’s 100-year history in developing aerosol delivery systems can improve patient outcomes when using Heliox as well.” As study results become available later this year, PARI and BOC will share information with physicians and clinics.