Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

Treatment with the probiotic Vivomixx appeared to lead to healthful changes in the gut microbiome of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in a small clinical trial, including six with CF-related…

A newly launched biotech company called Carbon Biosciences is aiming to develop lung-specific gene therapy vectors — vehicles to deliver genetic material directly into a cell — to help treat cystic fibrosis (CF). The company has $38 million in series A financing, funded in part by the Cystic…

Using a machine learning approach based on genetic data, a trio of scientists at Scripps Research identified a region of the CFTR protein that is vital for its proper function, but is barely affected by existing cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments. Researchers described their findings in the study “…

The Lung Transplant Foundation is hosting a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the intent of educating the agency and public about the challenges of living with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a severe complication of lung transplants. “This is the first time that regulators and policymakers…

Certain variations in the gene that codes for the inflammatory signaling molecule TGF-beta1 are associated with faster lung function decline and a higher risk of Pseudomonas infections for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a new study indicates. “Our results demonstrate the relevance of the multifunctional cytokine [signaling molecule]…

There is wide clinical variety in the presentation of individuals who carry one F508del mutation and one 5T;TG12 mutation in the CFTR gene, an Italian study highlights. Its researchers stressed the need to monitor individuals with this genotype, since there are not currently accurate ways to predict who is at highest risk…

Infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) who are infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in their first six months are at heightened risk of having impaired lung function by the time they are preschool age, a new study reports. The study also showed that lung function measurements and CT scan imaging in…

Scientists at the University of Southampton have created a new method that could be useful for rapidly identifying infectious bacteria in samples from people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Unlike currently used methods, this method does not require a time-consuming culture step where bacteria are grown in a laboratory. The…

A natural compound called ectoine may help to improve the stability of the CFTR protein by modulating the activity of a molecular signaling pathway called AREG-EGFR-ERK, a study reported. Ectoine is a stress-protection molecule with water-retaining and potentially anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers suggested that ectoine, given in combination with CFTR…

Health Canada has expanded the approval of Vertex Pharmaceuticals‘ triple-combination modulator treatment Trikafta to cover children with cystic fibrosis (CF) as young as 6 who have at least one copy of the F508del mutation. Trikafta had been approved only for patients ages 12 and older in Canada. According to…