MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc, Mountainview Calif, announced the initiation of a Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating MAP0005 for the potential treatment of asthma and COPD.

MAP0005 is a combination of a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-agonist delivered to the respiratory tract using MAP Pharmaceuticals’ Tempo inhaler. The drug combines corticosteroid and beta-agonist components into a single drug particle in a fixed, pre-specified ratio to better target the affected area of the lung and for a more controlled release of the dosage.

“By combining drugs at the micron or submicron particle level, rather than as separate particles, as practiced with current inhaled combination therapies, we can potentially enhance the synergistic effect of the drugs and increase dosing efficiency and consistency,” said Thomas A. Armer, PhD, founder and CEO of MAP Pharmaceuticals.

Armer added that “MAP0005 is potentially applicable to a broad range of combination drug products, for a variety of indications and routes of administration, such as oral administration.”