John C. Lincoln is looking for emphysema patients to participate in a clinical trial targeted at helping people breathe easier.
This groundbreaking research is being conducted at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, 250 E. Dunlap in Phoenix, the only site in Arizona for this study. It uses a new form of therapy from Aeris Therapeutics, Inc., a bio-pharmaceutical company which has developed a series of innovative procedures to treat lung disease.
The clinical trial is testing the Aeris Biologic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) System, which uses medication to shrink lung tissue damaged by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema is a progressive, degenerative disease that affects an estimated 3.5 million Americans.
The BLVR system uses a bronchoscope to deliver a precisely-portioned biodegradable gel to the most damaged areas of the lung. The treatment collapses diseased tissue, thus providing more space within the chest for the remaining healthier parts of the lung to function.
The study aims to determine whether the BLVR medication is more effective than invasive surgical procedures currently used to excise diseased lung tissue.
Initial results are encouraging, according to lead researcher Mark Gotfried, MD, a pulmonologist with Pulmonary Associates, Phoenix. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the BLVR its “Fast Track” designation reserved for drug and biologic development programs that demonstrate a potential solution to treat serious or life-threatening conditions.
Dr. Gotfried says more people are needed to participate in the research. Emphysema patients interested in participating in this exciting study should contact: Mark Gotfried, MD,BLVR Clinical Director, Pulmonary Associates, 1112 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006, telephone: 602-258-4951, e-mail: mgotfried@aol.com. |