Mpex Pharmaceuticals Inc, San Diego, announced that it has initiated a Phase 2 clinical study with MP-376 for the treatment of pulmonary infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

MP-376 is an aerosol form of levofloxacin, an antibiotic that has potent activity against key bacterial pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Delivery of levofloxacin directly to the lungs of CF patients by the aerosol route can potentially provide a number of safety and efficacy advantages compared to oral or IV administration.

"Based on the preclinical and early clinical work to date, we believe MP-376 has the potential to be an important new treatment option for CF patients," says Jeffery Loutit MD, Chief Medical Officer at Mpex. "This study, if successful, should allow us to select the appropriate dose and dose schedule for our pivotal Phase 3 studies, which we hope to initiate in 2009."