Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

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…

Sionna Therapeutics, a life sciences company that is developing a pipeline of experimental treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), has announced its official launch following the closing of a $111 million Series B financing. The company is aiming to treat the underlying cause of CF. “Our mission at Sionna is…

The European Commission is expected to propose a new governing framework for health data next month, called the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the aim of connecting national health systems to facilitate secure and efficient transfer of data across systems in different European nations. The move is expected to…

As part of its Path to a Cure initiative, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is readying its first “Golden Ticket” Competition, which aims to support early research toward new treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF). The competition will open on May 2, and applications are being accepted through May 30. It…

The first participant has been enrolled in a Phase 1 clinical trial testing the safety and pharmacological properties of the antibiotic Xenleta (lefamulin) in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). “We are excited to commence enrollment in this important study to evaluate the potential of Xenleta in the management…

The complex diagnostic journey of a girl with cystic fibrosis (CF) and three different disease-causing mutations was described in a report by scientists in Italy. “This case well illustrates possible pitfalls in the clinical and molecular diagnosis of CF,” the researchers wrote. Their report, “Things come…

KIT2014, an experimental treatment that Kither Biotech is developing to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) and other lung diseases, was able to reduce inflammation, relax the airways, and improve the functionality of CFTR modulators in preclinical models, a study shows. Kither is planning to launch a Phase 1/2a clinical…

Antibiotics are less effective at treating lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) when there are multiple types of infectious microorganisms present, according to a new study. “People with chronic infections often have co-infection with several pathogens, but the problem is we don’t take that into account in deciding how…