Ventaira Pharmaceuticals Announces Positive Scintigraphy Data With Next-Generation Pulmonary Drug Delivery Device

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventaira Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing pharmaceutical products for inhalation by utilizing its novel proprietary electrohydrodynamic (EHD) aerosolization technology and formulation technologies to improve the profiles of new or existing drugs, announced today completion of a pharmacokinetics and scintigraphy study with fluticasone propionate, an inhaled asthma treatment, in combination with the company's new inhalation device. The study proved that Ventaira's new technology delivers medicated aerosol to the lung in higher proportions than ever reported for a hand-held device.

Complete study results are being prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal later this year. The study, conducted by Pharmaceutical Profiles, analyzed the distribution of inhaled fluticasone, a commonly prescribed steroid treatment for asthma, from the mouth to the lung periphery. The appearance and bioavailability of fluticasone in blood were also analyzed. Fluticasone was administered by oral inhalation either as a pMDI HFA suspension through an AeroChamber PlusĀ® spacer, or by the Ventaira Phoenix device, which is based on Ventaira's Mystic(TM) electrohydrodynamic (EHD) technology.

"We are pleased with the results of this study, and we see them as validation of our technology as well as validation of our ability to compete amongst major players in the inhalation space," stated Leslie Williams, President and CEO of Ventaira. "In addition, these study results will be used to select the formulation and doses for our Phase II study that is slated to begin later this year."

About Ventaira's Mystic(TM) Inhalation Device

Ventaira's Mystic device is designed to deliver inhaled medications to patients in an efficient and easy-to-use manner. The Mystic device is based on a unique liquid aerosol technology called electrohydrodynamics (EHD) that can deliver respiratory and systemically active drugs to the lung more efficiently and effectively. EHD is an electronic nebulization process in which an electrical field is applied to a conductive liquid leading to the formation of a soft mist droplet aerosol. An electrical field charges the fluid's surface, resulting in the induction of repelling surface charges that overcome liquid surface tension and results in the break up of the fluid into uniform droplets. A subsequent electric field neutralizes the droplets resulting in an expelled soft mist. The particle size characteristics of the aerosol can be controlled by adjusting the physical and chemical characteristics of the formulation and by adjusting the flow rate and electrical field properties. This process allows for the production of soft clouds of uniformly sized particles with very high efficiencies enabling consistent delivery of drug to and through the lungs.

About Ventaira

Ventaira (formerly BattellePharma) is a specialty pharmaceutical company that uses its proprietary pulmonary drug delivery technology, Mystic(TM), (EHD) in its inhalation device to deliver respiratory and systemically active drugs more efficiently and effectively. Ventaira is currently developing its own proprietary drug for the treatment of asthma and also looks to create opportunities for existing drugs that may be more easily delivered via inhalation. Ventaira has an exclusive license on a portfolio of patents for its Mystic technology.

Contacts: Leslie Williams Susan Neath President & CEO Media & Investor Relations Ventaira Pharmaceuticals Porter Novelli Life Sciences 614-340-2338 858-527-3486

Source: Ventaira Pharmaceuticals

Back to news