News

The interaction of ions and sugars called glycans can affect the mucus that lines airways — a finding that has implications for cystic fibrosis, two studies reported. CF is characterized by abnormally thick and sticky mucus that can damage the lungs, gut and other organs and breed bacteria. The two studies showed…

Celtaxsys has obtained four U.S. patents, including a new one for acebilustat, its lead candidate for treating the lung inflammation found in cystic fibrosis. The other three patents cover potential therapies for additional inflammatory diseases. Acebilustat is designed to reduce an overabundance of white blood cells known as neutrophils in CF…

The sweat test, a clinical standard for diagnosing cystic fibrosis (CF), was found to be equally reliable for diagnosing CF in Down syndrome patients, according to a study published in the journal BMC Pulmonary Medicine. Previous case reports have suggested an association between CF and Down syndrome. Although rare, the…

Vertex Pharmaceuticals will advance to the next clinical-trial stage two therapies designed to correct faulty mechanisms underlying cystic fibrosis. The company said it plans Phase 3 trials of its next-generation correctors VX-659 and VX-445. They will be part of two triple combo therapy regimens that Vertex tests in CF patients. The…

A single dose of inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) solution increases mucus clearance for at least four hours in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), concludes researchers at the University of North Carolina and John Hopkins University. Their study, “Hypertonic saline has a prolonged effect on mucociliary clearance in adults with cystic…

Corbus Pharmaceuticals will receive up to $25 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help finance a six-month Phase 2b clinical trial of lenabasum (formerly known as anabasum) to treat cystic fibrosis patients. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the second-largest award they’ve ever…

This week marks the launch of the “7,000 Mile Rare Movement,” a nationwide effort to raise money for research into the 7,000 known rare diseases that afflict at least 30 million Americans. The campaign kicks off Feb. 1 and culminates with Rare Disease Day on Feb. 28. Organized by…

Volatile molecules present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients may help identify those infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The study, “Volatile molecules from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can ‘rule-in’ Pseudomonas aeruginosa and ‘rule-out’ Staphylococcus aureus infections in cystic fibrosis patients,” appeared in the journal Scientific Reports. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one…

More than half of British babies born with cystic fibrosis today will reach the age of 50, according to a new forecasting method. The same is true of CF patients who have reached the age of 30 today, researchers said. Reaching 30 is a milestone that signals another 20 years of…

Humanigen’s anti-inflammatory therapy KB001-A is safe but only modestly effective in cystic fibrosis patients with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria infection, a Phase 2 clinical trial indicates. In addition to displaying limited ability to decrease markers of patients’ lung inflammation, it failed to generate substantial decreases in their bacteria levels or improvements in their…