Australian company Pharmaxis is launching its Aridol inhaled dry powder mannitol bronchial challenge test in the US. The FDA approved the product in October 2010 for the assessment of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients 6 years old or older. Aridol is already marketed in many European countries, Australia, and Korea.
According to Pharmaxis, the Aridol challenge test takes only 20 minutes compared to about 45 minutes for a methacholine challenge test.
The company describes the method for using Aridol as follows:
“The ARIDOL test requires patients to inhale increasing doses of dry powder mannitol from a simple, hand-held device, which causes airways to narrow and contract when airway inflammation is present. The doses are contained in capsules that are administered at one-minute intervals until a positive response is achieved or until all the capsules have been inhaled, indicating a negative result. A positive response is indicated when there is a 15% reduction in lung function from baseline compared to a 20% fall required by a methacholine challenge test. The lower the dose required to cause bronchoconstriction, the more severe the bronchial hyperresponsiveness.”
Read the company’s press release.
