Author Archives: Alice Melão, MSc

A new, more efficient method for delivering gene therapies to lung tissues — based on tiny engineered proteins, called peptides —is creating therapeutic opportunities for people with diseases like cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, and asthma. The potential of these new delivery tools was described…

People who carry certain genetic mutations associated with cystic fibrosis, (CF) but who do not have the disease, are at risk for some gastrointestinal problems similar to those reported by CF patients, a large-scale study shows. This finding helps better understand the impact of genetic mutations linked to CF, as…

Treatment with Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) can effectively improve overall health in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis, but its use can be risky for those who do not tolerate the therapy, a study of its use in almost 850 CF patients across France found. More than 18% of these patients…

Using a simple shirt — a smart one — is closer to becoming a common method to measure lung function in patients with respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. A new study conducted by researchers from Radboud University Medical Center and University of Twente,…

Eloxx Pharmaceuticals is preparing to launch a Phase 2 clinical study in the U.S. to explore the potential of ELX-02 for treating people with cystic fibrosis (CF) who carry the G542X mutation. This follows approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the…

People using a nebulizer while lying on their side showed no significant loss in a treatment’s overall deposition in the lungs, a study in healthy adults and in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients reports. Rather, it found that alternating sides instead of sitting upright may better deposit a medicine’s active compounds…

Five programs helping to empower the cystic fibrosis (CF) community were selected to receive up to $10,000 each under the fourth annual Impact Grants awarded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). Launched in 2016, the Impact Grants program is designed to support new ideas and projects that aim…

Treating infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) with the antiviral therapy Synagis (palivizumab) does not improve long-term outcomes in lung health, real-world data show. Routine use of Synagis is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for babies with CF, although its use can be considered in those at…

The diagnostic potential of breath analysis to detect serious lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) will be explored in a new clinical trial, which could lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses, and potentially improve the quality of life and prolong the life of these patients, researchers say. The…

Claire’s Place Foundation is throwing an inaugural fundraising ball June 29 to celebrate the life and legacy of the foundation’s late founder, Claire Wineland, who had cystic fibrosis (CF). Called the Clairity Ball, the event will be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica,…