News

A new method of isolating lung stem cells could help speed the development of stem-cell based therapies for lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis, according to a University of North Carolina study. That method is extracting them with a tube from the mouth to the lung rather than surgery. The team…

In a groundbreaking study, scientists reported editing and correcting, for the first time, a defective gene in human embryos. Additionally, this gene-editing technique appeared to be safely performed without introducing additional harmful genetic alterations. These results represent a key achievement in human genetic engineering and highlight a potential way…

Two of the three therapies that Proteostasis Therapeutics has developed to correct the underlying problem in cystic fibrosis are going through clinical trials and a third is heading for trials, the company reports. That underlying problem is a mutation in a gene known as the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, or CFTR. It produces…

Treatment with Alcresta Therapeutics’ product Relizorb effectively increased fat absorption in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) receiving enteral tube feeding who have trouble breaking down and absorbing these molecules. This resulted in a reduction of the frequency and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms. These findings were published recently in the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kalydeco (ivacaftor) to treat more than 600 of the estimated 30,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis (CF), Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced. The oral medicine may now be prescribed to CF patients ages 2 and older who have one of five residual…

One of the preparations for clinical trials is producing enough of the therapy to be tested. Arch Biopartners says the production of its treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis and COPD is on track for the start of a Phase 1 clinical trial later this year. Its partner, Dalton…

A U.S. government-backed initiative against drug-resistant bacteria has awarded Antabio $2.8 million to continue developing treatments for Pseudomonas, the most common infection in cystic fibrosis (CF). The grant came from a public-private partnership known as CARB-X, which stands for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator. CARB-X, formed in July 2016,…

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is continuing to develop treatments for all people with cystic fibrosis (CF), with clinical trials exploring combinations of its potentiator and corrector therapies. At the same time, efforts to expand the use of already-approved treatments are ongoing. In addition, the company recently completed the purchase of Concert’s…

Sema4 and Helix have partnered to offer CarrierCheck, a simple, saliva-based test that screens for 67 hereditary conditions, including cystic fibrosis (CF). The test provides people with a snapshot of their DNA and how it might impact their future choices, lifestyle and children’s health, among others. The…

Electromed recently launched a SmartVest Connect wireless technology to complement the SmartVest SQL, a technology that allows doctors and patients with certain lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis, to have access to treatment information and collaborate in care decisions. The device developed by Electromed, the SmartVest Airway Clearance…