An FDA advisory committee on Thursday recommendedapproval of an antibiotic developed by Adria Laboratories totreat mycobacterium avium complex, a disease that is life-threatening in AIDS patients.

The drug, called Mycobutin, was clearly effective in combattingthe disease, according to Joseph Bianchini, vice president formedical research at Adria of Columbus, Ohio, a privately heldsubsidiary of Erbamont Inc.

Advisory panel recommendations are not binding on the FDA,but do carry weight in its decision to approve a drug.

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