Patricia InĂ¡cio, PhD, science writer —

Patricia holds her PhD in cell biology from the University Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, and has served as an author on several research projects and fellowships, as well as major grant applications for European agencies. She also served as a PhD student research assistant in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, New York, for which she was awarded a Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) fellowship.

Articles by Patricia InĂ¡cio

CF Patients’ Response to Kalydeco Impaired by Single Variants in SLC26A9 Gene, Study Reports

Single nucleotide polimorphisms (or variants), known as SNPs — the most common type of genetic variation — in the SLC26A9 gene are linked to poorer lung responses to Kalydeco in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, a French study reports. The study, “SLC26A9 Gene Is Associated With Lung Function Response to Ivacaftor in Patients With…

#ECFS2018 – Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Boosts Antibiotic’s Ability to Kill Resistant P. aeruginosa Strains, Study Finds

Combining the approved multiple sclerosis treatment glatiramer acetate with the antibiotic tobramycin improved its ability to kill antibiotic-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, new data show. These results were shared in the presentation “The repurposed multiple sclerosis drug, glatiramer acetate, is an antibiotic resistance breaker in Pseudomonas aeruginosa…

#ECFS2018 – Orkambi Taken for 1 Year Returned Glucose Levels to Normal in Group of CF Patients in Study

One year of treatment with Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) returned blood glucose (sugar) levels to normal in almost half of a small group of diabetic or glucose-intolerant cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, a study reports. These results were summarized in the presentation “Observational study of glucose tolerance abnormalities in patients with cystic…

#ECFS2018 – Potential CFTR Corrector PTI-801, Plus Orkambi, Seen to Treat CF Patients in Phase 1 Trial

Treatment for 14 days with Proteostasis Therapeutics’ PTI-801 in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients also being treated with Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) led to statistically significant improvements in sweat chloride, body mass index, and rescued blood glucose levels in a subgroup of patients with diabetes, Phase 1 trial data show. PTI-801 is being…

#ECFS2018 – Kalydeco’s Benefits Include Lower Risk of Death and Pulmonary Flares, Real-world Data Shows

Real-world results from the largest analyses of Vertex Pharmaceutical’s cystic fibrosis’ treatment Kalydeco (ivacaftor) done in CF patients to date confirm the therapy’s ability to significantly lower the risks of mortality, transplants, hospitalization, and pulmonary exacerbations compared to untreated patients. These results were presented today at the 41st European Cystic…

#ECFS2018 — Hard-to-Treat Infections May Not Impact Survival of CF Patients After Lung Transplant, Study Shows

One-year survival after a lung transplant of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients chronically infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria is similar to those without infections, according to a retrospective analysis of data from the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Thoracic Transplant Registry. Results of the study were shared today…

2 CF Patients with Lung Infections Due to M. abscessus Show Signs of Cure Using GM-CSF, Savara Reports

Two cystic fibrosis (CF) patients being treated for lung infections related to Mycobacterium abscessus — a multidrug-resistant nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) — using inhaled granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) now both show signs of cure, Savara Pharmaceuticals announced. M. abscessus accounts for about 35 percent of NTM infections in cystic fibrosis patients in North America, researchers…

#ATS2018 – Nitric Oxide-Inhaled Therapy May Decrease Burden of Serious Lungs Infections, Study Shows

New data suggest that inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) may improve lung function and alleviate the burden of serious lung infections, such as Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two serious pathogens affecting cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Results from the Advanced Inhalation Therapies (AIT) pilot study were shared recently at the…