Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

CF Patients Cite Barriers to Physical Activity

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience many barriers that limit their participation in physical activity, ranging from a lack of energy to low motivation to self-consciousness, a recent study highlights. A “tentative but important finding” from the study is that people with CF generally prefer at-home exercise over going…

PDE4 Inhibitors May Help Treat CF, Dry Mouth

Blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) may be useful in the treatment of dry mouth and cystic fibrosis (CF), new preclinical research suggests. The study, “Inhibition of cAMP-Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) Induces Salivation in Mice,” is being presented virtually at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental…

CHMP Favors Kaftrio to Treat CF Patients in EU Starting at Age 12

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee favors extending the label for Kaftrio (ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor), in combination with Kalydeco (ivacaftor), to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) patients 12 and older who have at least one copy of the CFTR gene with an F508del mutation. The European Commission (EC) approved the same combination last year…

Health Canada Giving Priority Review to Trikafta

Health Canada is reviewing an application that seeks the approval of Trikafta, a triple combination reported to treat 90% of all with cystic fibrosis (CF), or those with least one F508del mutation. The request from Trikafta’s developer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, covers eligible patients ages 12 and older, and has been granted…

Potential Antibiotic Appears to Effectively Treat M. abscessus Infections

A newly developed antibiotic, called T405, appears to effectively kill Mycobacteroides abscessus, a difficult-to-treat bacteria that can cause serious infections in people with lung conditions like cystic fibrosis (CF). The antibiotic was described in the study “Development of a penem antibiotic against Mycobacteroides abscessus,” published in Communications…