José Lopes, PhD,  managing science editor—

Preventing a protein called AGTR2 from going about its work — either by removing it through genetic engineering or by using pharmacological agents to silence it — improved lung function in mouse models of cystic fibrosis (CF), a study reports. Earlier work linking this protein to pulmonary disease in CF patients,…

The adaptation of bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients may make them more susceptible to antibiotics and easier to kill, according to new research. The study with that finding, “Evolutionary trade-offs associated with loss of PmrB function in host-adapted Pseudomonas aeruginosa,”…

A potential therapy delivered through nanoparticles enables production of the normal, healthy form of the key CFTR protein in cystic fibrosis (CF), a new study suggests. The research, “Lipid Nanoparticle-Delivered Chemically Modified mRNA Restores Chloride Secretion in Cystic Fibrosis,” was published in the journal Molecular…

Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) all provide considerable benefits, but their pricing is not transparent and does not align with the medications clinical value, a review of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)’s report by the Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (Midwest CEPAC)…

New research provides insights into how bacteria “talk” to each other in lung infections, which could provide strategies to block these signals and ease bacterial virulence in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The study, “Spatial determinants of quorum signaling in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model,” was…

Clinical centers around the world differ in the standards they use when considering cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections for lung transplants, and few have a clear written policy, a U.K. study shows. These findings reflect the need for standardized guidelines for listing cystic fibrosis…

An antibacterial compound found in toothpaste, called triclosan, may be part of a future cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment, a Michigan State University study suggests. The research, “Triclosan is an aminoglycoside adjuvant for the eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms,” was published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents…

Tobramycin, an antibiotic often used to treat acute lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, is safe for once-a-day use in children under age 6, with findings of minimal kidney and no inner ear toxicity in these pediatric patients, a study reports. The research, “Safety of Extended Interval Tobramycin…

Abnormalities in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measures correlate with a decline in lung function in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF), a study suggests. The study, “Continuous glucose monitoring abnormalities in cystic fibrosis youth correlate with pulmonary function decline,” was published in the Journal of Cystic…

AB569, Arch Biopartners’ treatment candidate for bacterial infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory conditions, has received a U.S. patent. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued patent 9,925,206 to the University of Cincinnati, which granted Arch Biopartners an…