The HRC extends its congratulations to Dr Conroy Wong, the Clinical Head of Respiratory Medicine at Middlemore Hospital, who has won the $20,000 Value of Medicines Award for his HRC-funded research into bronchiectasis – a permanent abnormal widening of the bronchi, which is usually accomponaied by a distortion of the airways.
The award will be presented by Hon Todd McClay, Associate Minister of Health, at the Medicines New Zealand 'Medicines Transform Lives Conference' in Auckland today.
Medicines New Zealand General Manager Kevin Sheehy said the award aims to stimulate research that improves the understanding, effectiveness or safety of the use of medicines or vaccines.
Dr Wong's study found for the first time that azithromycin, one of the macrolide group of antibiotics, is an effective treatment for bronchiectasis. The study also evaluated the adverse effects of azithromycin and found that it was generally safe and well tolerated.