British Bio-Technology Group plc announced that it hasinitiated a Phase II trial on its anti-inflammatory compound,BB-882, for treating sepsis. The efficacy trial is being conductedon 40 intensive care patients in the United Kingdom

BB-882 is a platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist thatBritish Bio-tech scientists have created via computerizedmolecular modeling and rational drug design. PAF is aninflammatory agent produced by a wide variety of cell types,and is thought to play a critical role in the development ofseptic shock.

The Oxford, England, company (NASDAQ:BBIOY) already has theinjectable form of BB-882 in Phase II trials for treating acutepancreatitis.

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