Clinical trial: new biological approaches to respiratory diseases

Symposium
Chairs: B. Balbi (Veruno, Italy), U. Specks (Rochester, United States of America)
Aims: This session is designed to illustrate the results of two recently performed clinical trials involving patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and with asthma. These trials share the innovative approach to the treatment of these disorders, namely the biological approach by means of a cytokine (gamma-interferon) for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and an anti-cytokine antibody (anti-TNF-alpha) for asthma.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study of the safety and efficacy of interferon gamma-1b in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis T. King, Jr (San Francisco, United States of America)
Phase 2, mutlicenter, double-blind study of CNTO 148, a human monoclonal anti-TNF α antibody, in symptomatic patients with severe persistent asthma S. Wenzel (Pittsburgh, United States of America)