Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

Researchers have identified a set of genes that could represent therapeutic targets to prevent severe complications from COVID-19 infection in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Three of these genes were at higher levels in patients with either COVID-19, CF, or chronic kidney disease (CKD), and a larger network of…

The advent of newborn screening (NBS) programs in the U.S. a decade ago is linked to better outcomes today in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), a new study reports. Results show that children born after CF newborn screening became available in their states have improved nutritional outcomes, better…

Measures of frailty, based on an established index of physical activity, fatigue, weight loss, and the like for older adults, helps in predicting likely outcomes among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients listed for a lung transplant. A greater degree of frailty linked significantly with worsening waitlist status, graft failure, and mortality,…

Allergies to beta-lactam antibiotics were the most commonly confirmed antibiotic allergy in children with cystic fibrosis, according to a small study in Turkey. Sensitivity to multiple types of antibiotics occurred in one-third of children with an allergy, data showed. Having an immediate reaction to a medication and an allergy…

Lumacaftor (VX-809) — one of the medications in the CFTR modulator Orkambi —  led to a significant protein reorganization in two cellular compartments in a cell model of cystic fibrosis (CF), causing them to more closely resemble healthy cells, a study showed. The findings expand the potential mechanisms…

Destiny Pharma has received an award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) to evaluate its investigational compound, XF-73, as a potential treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The study will be carried out by researchers affiliated with the CFF,…

Researchers have developed a way to monitor the onset and progression of lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF) for whom lung imaging and diagnostic techniques are not well established. Testing the approach in 145 CF infants, the researchers found that about half showed signs of early-onset…

Six months of Kaftrio (elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor), which is marketed as Trikafta in the U.S., led to marked reductions in abdominal symptoms among people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a study in Germany and the U.K. found. “To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing gastrointestinal symptoms, with a validated…

The prevalence of cystic fibrosis (CF), used as an indicator of the number of CF carriers, was correlated with rates of COVID-19 and related mortality during the pandemic’s early stages across 37 different countries, a study showed. “This report suggests a possible contribution of the CFTR genetic profile of…

Treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin did not prevent the development of lung damage in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF), but was safe and lowered inflammation, hospital stays and antibiotic usage, according to data from a Phase 3 clinical trial. “Azithromycin treatment from diagnosis of cystic fibrosis after newborn…