UK drug delivery specialist Profile Therapeutics says it expects marketing approval for its new inhaled cystic fibrosis drug in eight European countries in the next few months.

The company's first drug Promixin, an inhaled antibiotic for the respiratory infections in the disease was launched in the UK 12 months ago, and is now set to gain approval in Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark.

Profile says these markets account for around 50% of the European market for inhaled colistin in cystic fibrosis patients, and the company does not intend to generate the additional data required by the remaining six markets in the EU.

The company's 'intelligent inhaler' which responds to a patient breathing has been licensed by subsidiaries of German pharma company Schering for the delivery of its drug for primary pulmonary hypertension, Ventavis.