Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Trikafta (elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor) was found to successfully lessen the microbial load in the airways of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) after one year of therapy, according to a new study. Treatment with the approved triple therapy markedly reduced the abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus…

A new study suggests that the use of anti-inflammatory medications to modulate immune signaling proteins in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) may potentially reduce bacteria and avoid antibiotic resistance. Researchers found that different bacteria in the airways of CF patients induced the release of varying signaling proteins, called cytokines,…

Higher weight in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) at 1 year of age, and increasing weight gain from ages 1 through 5, were correlated significantly with better lung function at age 6, according to an analysis of two large  registries. Current guidelines may need to be updated to encourage…

In children with cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic lung infection with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) before age 4 was associated with poor lung function by age 8, a small study concluded. Early infection was also linked to an increased risk later of lung exacerbations, or a rapid worsening of symptoms.

Adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) are willing to accept reductions in lung function and life expectancy as a trade-off for a reduced treatment burden, a survey of patient preferences suggested. Over all other outcomes, the participants preferred a treatment choice that would extend their life expectancy by 10 years…

Mothers who care for children with cystic fibrosis (CF) often experience depression, burnout, caregiver burden, and negative attitudes toward their children, a study suggests. These caregiving struggles may increase with more hospital visits and hospitalizations, and having a lower family income, more children, and another child with a chronic…

A potential gene-specific therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF) may lie in antisense oligonucleotides, or ASOs, that enhance the production and activity of the truncated CFTR protein caused by the W1282X mutation, a cell study suggested. In combination with approved CFTR modulator therapies, candidate ASOs were seen to raise CFTR-W1282X…

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will use Epistemic AI’s platform, a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) research tool for the life sciences, to augment its research into cystic fibrosis (CF) and other lung conditions. The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) venture philanthropy initiative helped bring this capability to scientists at Cincinnati…

Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have lung infections due to CF-related bacteria, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were found to have higher levels in their bloodstream of biomarkers of oxidative stress and related tissue damage. These high levels were accompanied by reduced lung function and worse nutritional status, according…

Glatiramer acetate, an approved multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy, improved the effectiveness of the antibiotic tobramycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria that commonly infects the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a study demonstrated. The findings support glatiramer acetate as a promising antibiotic add-on therapy candidate,…