Multi-national phase II trials of a new antibiotic for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adult patients are set to begin soon, it has been announced.

CAP is a disease which causes the lung tissue to become inflamed after exposure to germs in the course of a patient's daily life.

According to Bupa, pneumonia affects about one per cent of the population of the UK every year, with babies and those aged over 65 most likely to contract it.

Manufacturer Novexel said that its streptogramin-class oral drug NXL103 would be tested for efficacy, safety and tolerance and analysed against the results of treatment with comparator drugs.

Patients in Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Peru, Poland, Romania, South Africa and the Ukraine will be recruited to the study, with the trial consisting of 300 people in three separate study arms.

Masters has many years of experience in clinical trial supply and can provide those conducting tests of pipeline drugs with comparator medicines from more than 200 manufacturers worldwide.