Strong data for Bayer's Avelox in CAP

A study recently published in Clinical Infectious Diseases shows that Bayer Schering Pharma's Avelox (moxifloxacin HCl) monotherapy is as powerful as a high-dose combination regimen of ceftriaxon plus levofloxacin in the treatment of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia, according to the German drugmaker.

A total of 569 patients at 69 centers in 17 countries from southern and northern Europe, Latin America and South Africa were treated in the MOTIV trial. In the prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study there was no significant difference in the clinical cure rates obtained with the two treatments (86.9% moxifloxacin group versus 89.9% comparator group; 95% CI: -8.1-2.2%) irrespective of the severity of pneumonia. Both regimens were well tolerated and there were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse effects or mortality, the firm noted.