SYDNEY, Australia, March 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmaxis (ASX: PXS; Nasdaq: PXSL) today announced that a clinical trial application for Bronchitol to treat bronchiectasis has been accepted for evaluation by China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA).
All pharmaceutical companies are required to undertake a study in a Chinese population to support their marketing approval application. Approval of the clinical trial application is expected in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Preliminary market research indicates that the number of Chinese who suffer from bronchiectasis is more than double that in the rest of the world. Pharmaxis expects Bronchitol to be the first targeted medication for this patient group in over 20 years.
"China represents an outstanding opportunity for Pharmaxis," said Pharmaxis CEO Alan Robertson. "A number of leading Chinese respiratory physicians have indicated they wish to conduct bronchiectasis studies, and have confirmed there is a large unmet need for new treatments for bronchiectatic patients.
"The cost of conducting clinical trials in China is significantly less than in other parts of the world, and the results of the trials can be used to support additional marketing applications throughout Asia Pacific and the rest of the world."
Bronchitol is being developed as a daily therapy for people with the currently incurable lung condition bronchiectasis. Bronchitol is administered by inhalation to the patient's lungs. Bronchiectasis is a degenerative and chronic lung condition that makes breathing difficult because of excessive mucus buildup in the lungs. Pharmaxis has the only product in Phase III clinical trials for bronchiectasis anywhere in the world.
Pharmaxis' representative office in Shanghai was formally registered and approved this week by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China.
To find out more about Pharmaxis go to http://www.pharmaxis.com.au .
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this media release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements in this media release include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, goals, intentions, initiatives or strategies, including statements regarding the potential for Aridol and/or Bronchitol. All forward-looking statements included in this media release are based upon information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We can not guarantee that any product candidate will receive FDA or other regulatory approval or that we will seek any such approval. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the "Risk Factors and Other Uncertainties" section of our Form 20-F lodged with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT:
Alan Robertson -- Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +61-2-9454-7200
Email: alan.robertson@pharmaxis.com.au
Released through:
Australia:
Virginia Nicholls
Tel: +61-417-610-824
Email: virginia.nicholls@pharmaxis.com.au
United States:
Brandon Lewis, Trout Group
Tel: +1-646-378-2915
Email: blewis@troutgroup.com
