Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LON:FARN) said a separate Japanese study effectively confirmed the results of an earlier phase III trial of its Traumakine drug for people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
In other words, it did not reduce mortality or increase the number of ventilator-free survival days when compared to placebo.
But as chief executive, Dr Markku Jalkanen, pointed out: “It appears likely that corticosteroid use diminished the treatment benefit of Traumakine in ARDS patients in the Japanese Phase III study.
“Unfortunately, the use of steroids has become a standard in ARDS despite any evidence base and this requires critical reassessment, as the use of steroids appears to worsen outcomes in certain ARDS subgroups."