Prometic Life Sciences Inc., of Laval, Quebec, said it plans to initiate a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial in patients with scleroderma, based on the scientific rationale that PBI-4050 was shown to reduce fibrosis in several key organs in preclinical models, irrespective of the cause of injury or whether acute or chronic in nature. In mice genetically programmed to develop scleroderma, PBI-4050 prevented over-production of collagen and the formation of fibrotic scarring, according to the company. The trial will examine whether PBI-4050 can prevent or reverse fibrosis in the skin and key target organs, such as the lungs.