Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. has begun a multi-center Phase I/IItrial in the U.S. to test LiquiVent in the treatment of respiratorydistress syndrome in infants and adults.Gwen Rosenberg, director of corporate communications for the SanDiego-based company, said the safety studies also will be used togather efficacy data. About 30 patients will be involved. Adultparticipants targeted will be those whose respiration is failingdespite use of a ventilator. Infants involved in the studies will havesuffered complete respiratory failure.Rosenberg said LiquiVent, a liquid perfluorochemical, is beingtested under an expedited investigational new drug application. Thetrial is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 1995. AnotherPhase I/II trial is under way in premature infants.Rosenberg told BioWorld LiquiVent, which carries oxygen directlyinto the lungs, is used in conjunction with a ventilator and isdesigned to hold open air sacks in the lungs while facilitating theexchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. LiquiVent, she added, isvaporized and does not have to be removed.The drug is one of the company's three lead products along withOxygent, a temporary blood substitute, and Imagent, an ultrasoundcontrast imaging agent.In August, Alliance signed a collaboration with New Jersey-basedJohnson & Johnson for as much as $90 million for the developmentand marketing of Oxygent, which is in Phase II studies.Alliance's stock (NASDAQ:ALLP) closed Friday at $8, up 50cents. _ Charles Craig

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