The study aimed to assess the safety of the treatment and establish it activates antiviral defences in the lungs of asthmatics.

Chief investigator Professor Ratko Djukanovic said, 'We are pleased that inhaled IFN-β was well tolerated at a dose level that we predict will be efficacious in asthma and COPD.'

Synairgen said the results greatly increased its confidence ahead of Phase II efficacy studies due to start next spring.

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