HFA combination MDI Inyx Pharma Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Inyx Inc., the United States, has been chosen by an European pharmaceutical company to develop a combination between a corticosteroid and a ß-2-agonist in a single metered-dose inhaler (MDI) utilizing a non-ozone depleting hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant. Corticosteroids are the most effective and widely used anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), such as bronchitis and emphysema. They are often taken with short-acting or long-acting bronchodilators (ß-2-agonists), the primary rescue medicine used to treat asthma and other COPD attacks. Contact: Mr. Jay M. Green, Vice President, Inyx Inc., United States of America. E-mail: jgreen@inyxinc.com Website: www.prnewswire.com

Xopenex HFA metered-dose inhaler launched Sepracor Inc., the United States, announced the availability of Xopenex HFATM (levalbuterol tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol, a hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Xopenex HFA is a short-acting ß-agonist indicated for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in patients 4 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airway disease. Xopenex HFA MDI is a portable, hand-held device, with a pressurized canister containing medication and a mouthpiece to administer the medicine. Reversible obstructive airway disease includes respiratory disorders such as asthma and the reversible component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affecting nearly 41 million people in the United States. Xopenex HFA development programme included approximately 1,870 paediatric and adult subjects and 54 studies (preclinical and clinical). In each of the three, large-scale, pivotal Phase III trials that Sepracor conducted, Xopenex HFA was well tolerated and met the targeted efficacy endpoints in both adults and children with asthma. Contact: Mr. Jonae R. Barnes. Tel: +1 (508) 4816 700. Website: www.genengnews.com