News

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst have developed a new method of RNA production that leads to higher yields and purity of RNA molecules, likely making it more cost-effective than current approaches. Their work may be of importance to the production of RNA-based therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF)…

The seventh annual Glow Ride for Cystic Fibrosis, hosted by Claire’s Place Foundation, will resume along the coast of Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 21. Last year’s cystic fibrosis (CF) fundraising event was postponed out of consideration for safety measures related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. “Since…

Registration is now open for the 2021 Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit, which will be held virtually Oct. 18–19. The event, also known as the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Summit, brings the rare disease community together to network and discuss developments in treatments and research…

Andrea Hoffman, an Ohio Northern University (ONU) student who also is a cystic fibrosis (CF) patient and advocate, has been appointed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to the Ohio Rare Disease Advisory Council, according to a university press release. In her two-year term, Hoffman, an ONU junior, will…

Poor bone density is increasingly evident in older cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and may be linked to an inflammation biomarker known as interleukin 8 (IL-8), a small study in Canada suggests. Bone disorders can affect 24% of adults with CF, the study noted, adding that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation…

Kaftrio successfully improved lung function and quality of life in three Italian cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who have severe lung disease with an unknown mutation in the CFTR gene in addition to the common F508del mutation, a case series reported. Kaftrio (elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor), sold as Trikafta in the…

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the protein that is mutated in cystic fibrosis (CF), is not as rigid a structure as previously thought, but rather one that may transition between shapes, a molecular study has found. Under certain conditions — such as the most common CF-causing mutation, F508del…

Depression and anxiety are common among people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a systematic review reports. The study “Global Burden of Anxiety and Depression among Cystic Fibrosis Patient: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” was published in the International Journal of Chronic Diseases. In people with CF, a genetic defect…

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) who use opioids to manage pain commonly report being satisfied with the treatment, but also have concerns about the potential for addiction and stigmatization, according to the results of a recent patient survey. The findings highlight “the need for guideline-driven practice standards, including the…

More than 600 people participated in the 10th annual Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill 2021, held virtually July 14–22, to advocate for the rare disease community. Hosted by the EveryLife Foundation’s Rare Disease Legislative Advocates (RDLA) program, the event brings together community members from across the U.S. to…