It will develop products for treating chronic diseases in animals, evaluate them through trials and seek marketing partners. Research has progressed to the point that we are ready to conduct trials for feline leukemia, certain canine cancers and cardiomyopathy. We plan to turn our research efforts next toward senility, cystitis and diabetes. Chronic bronchitis is the most common form of pulmonary or respiratory disease, affecting an estimated 14 million Americans. It is characterized by a persistent and recurrent cough which generates copious amounts of sputum.
Patients suffer shortness of breath and debilitating fatigue.
In advanced stages, the condition may lead to respiratory system infections and even heart failure. Patients treated with HP-3 experienced increased expectoration and showed statistically significant improvements in objective tests of pulmonary function and physical performance capacity when compared to patients receiving placebo. The prognosis for severely afflicted patients is not bright. We believe our product may well fill an unmet medical need. In keeping with our business strategy, we plan to initiate discussions with potential licensees for our chronic bronchitis product, HP-3, in early spring.