Nile Therapeutics has begun a placebo-controlled Phase II clinical study of its lead compound, CD-NP, for patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

The study is being conducted in Germany, Israel and the US.

Nile has identified two doses that have a suitable safety and activity profile.

As of May, the company has dosed 60 of the 75 patients included in the Phase II study.

Full clinical data is expected by the end of the year.