Clinical effects of proteinase, sfericase (AI-794), on chronic bronchitis and similar diseases

Abstract

The clinical effect and utility of sfericase was compared with an inactive placebo by a double-blind method in three groups of a total 109 patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases who had complained of difficult expectoration of sputum. A significantly greater improvement of expectoration was obtained in Group A-1 (6 tablets/day). Also in group A-1, more cases showed subjective and objective improvement, i.e., improvement in expectoration, reduction in coughs, decrease in the amount of sputum, and disappearance of râles. However, the sputum and its degree of purulency remained unchanged in most cases in all three groups. Side effects were few. The clinical efficacy of sfericase in the group with 2 tablets, 3X/day (total daily dose of 6 tablets) was shown to be significantly superior to the other two groups. This dosage was established as the optimal dose for treating difficulty in expectoration.