One theory on Ariflo difficulties

Executive Summary

Variable results seen in clinical trials of the PDE4 inhibitor Ariflo for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be due to patient selection, GSK VP-New Product Development James Palmer speculates during Goldman Sachs conference. "I think you are seeing some probably asthmatic patients or other types of patients getting into these studies who have some reversibility, which probably accounts for some of the variable results that you are seeing," Palmer said. Development of Ariflo was delayed after a pivotal European trial failed to reach statistical significance (1"The Pink Sheet" Nov. 6, 2000, p. 4). A follow-up study is recruiting patients and one-year data is expected to be filed in the second half of 2002, Palmer said. GSK's Advair (salmeterol/fluticasone) was filed for COPD in May