As part of the January issue, the European Respiratory Journal presents the latest in its series of podcasts. Deputy chief editor James Chalmers interviews the Anthony De Soyza (Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK) and Timothy Aksamit (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA) about the RESPIRE1 and RESPIRE2 trials of ciprofloxacin in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. These two global phase III trials enrolled a total of 937 and test two dosing regimens tested (identical dose). The range of treatment estimates favours use of a ciprofloxacin dry powder inhaler (DPI), which was overall, well tolerated, with high compliance and an excellent safety profile. The ciprofloxacin DPI 14-day regimen gave a 144-day delay in the to time to first exacerbation and a 25% reduction in the frequency of exacerbations, and the 28-day regimen gave a 138-day delay in to time to first exacerbation and a 28% reduction in frequency of exacerbations.