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In a small clinical trial, Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) appeared to reduce structural damage in the lungs, as measured by a chest MRI, for preschool-age children with cystic fibrosis (CF) who are homozygous for the F508del mutation. “This study suggests that [Orkambi] may modify CF disease progression when administered early…

Researchers are developing new inhalable nanoparticles designed to deliver RNA-based gene-editing therapeutics directly to the lungs, a study reports. Now shown to be effective in mice, the ultimate goal is to develop inhaled therapeutics to correct genetic defects in conditions affecting the lungs, such as cystic fibrosis (CF). “This…

A project that dissects the molecular proceses that allow bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex to attach to cells was awarded a $400,125 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These bacteria are known to cause serious infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The grant was awarded to Tung…

Nearly 39,000 people were estimated to be living with cystic fibrosis (CF) in the U.S. in 2020, up from the roughly 34,000 estimate made in 2012, a study led by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation reported. A majority — about 77% — of these people also took part in…

American Airlines and its partners announced having raised $1.1 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) during the annual American Airlines Celebrity Ski event. The event, running for 38 years, has collected more than $45 million in support of the foundation’s goal of a cure for cystic fibrosis (CF). Last year’s…

Small changes in the shape of CFTR, the protein defective or absent in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), opened its gate outside the cell to allow the flow of chloride ions, a study reported. CF-causing mutations that suppress CFTR function disrupt these long-distance shape changes. By comparison, CFTR potentiator…

Trikafta significantly improved the lung function of cystic fibrosis patients after only two weeks of treatment, with the benefits sustained after nearly four months, according to real-world data from a single center in Austria. “Early LCI [lung clearance index] measurements can help to assess the patient’s response to this…

An exclusive telehealth care model used during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a decrease in pulmonary function in Australian children with cystic fibrosis (CF). “It is likely that telehealth based care should complement, rather than replace in person assessment,” according to the researchers. “Further work is needed to…

Communities of fungi in the airways can be more diverse in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with better lung function and those using medications known as CFTR modulators, a study found. “As CF lung disease progresses, bacterial richness and diversity are known to decrease, concomitant with increased absolute and relative…

Overactive T2 inflammation, a type of immune response linked to asthma, may be associated with worse symptoms of cystic fibrosis (CF), a finding that could pave the way for using anti-asthmatics for CF, a study suggests. The study, “Association between Cystic Fibrosis exacerbations, lung function, T2 inflammation and…