The patients will be treated with OX914 in a disease model for inflammatory airway disease. Approximately 36 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis will be given placebo or OX914 in doses of 15 or 50mg for two weeks in a double-blind three-way cross-over study. Effects on nasal symptoms, inflammatory response, as well as safety and tolerability will be documented.
OX914 is a so-called PDE4 inhibitor with an improved safety profile in development for the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and rhinitis.
Torbjorn Bjerke, president and CEO of Orexo, said: “This is Orexo’s first NCE in Phase II. OX914 has the potential to be an important new product for the treatment of asthma, COPD and rhinitis with the improved safety profile in particular the lower frequency of nausea and vomiting compared to other PDE4 inhibitors in development. We look forward to results in the first half of 2009.”