Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Cystic Fibrosis News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/cystic_fibrosis/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169998.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169998.php Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISPH) announced today patient enrollment is complete in three of its late-stage clinical trials. "We are pleased to be executing on our strategic plan with the achievement of these patient enrollment milestones in the clinical development programs for denufosol, PROLACRIA™ and AZASITE®, as this places us in a position to have top-line results from all our late-stage clinical programs within 18 months. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169522.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169522.php Cystic fibrosis carrier testing should be offered to all couples considering pregnancy and to women in early pregnancy and their partners, according to the authors of a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia. Cystic Fibrosis Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168498.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168498.php The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical guidelines for the treatment of exacerbations in cystic fibrosis based on a review of the literature on current clinical practices. "This is the first such comprehensive and evidence-based systematic review of best practices for pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis," said Susanna McColley, M.D. Cystic Fibrosis Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167704.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167704.php Phase 1/2 clinical trial results with KB001, a Humaneered™, high-affinity antibody fragment under development by KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in cystic fibrosis patients showed an acceptable safety profile as well as trends toward reducing tissue inflammation and clearance of the bacterium. Results of the multi-center, randomized, double-blind, single-dose, placebo-controlled study are being presented today at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Minneapolis, MN. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167678.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167678.php NanoBio Corporation today announced compelling preclinical data for NB-401, a nebulized nanoemulsion-based agent that kills highly drug-resistant strains of bacteria commonly found in cystic fibrosis patients. Currently there are limited treatment options available that effectively address these resistant bacteria. The study results are being presented today at the 2009 Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) in Minneapolis, Minn. Cystic Fibrosis Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167364.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167364.php The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been awarded a five-year, $6.2 million renewal grant to continue its work as part of the National Institutes of Health's Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN). "This additional funding will let us continue our discovery of rare disease-causing gene mutations, which has already culminated in a clinical genetic test, but which needs to be expanded and improved," said Michael Knowles, M.D. Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166973.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166973.php Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that Phase III data published in the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis showed that CREON® (pancrelipase) Delayed-Release Capsules, the most prescribed pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) in the United States, significantly improves a key measure of fat absorption in patients with CF who suffer from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166877.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166877.php Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., the new NIH director who led an international effort to map the human genome and co-discovered the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis, will address more than 3,000 leading scientists and clinicians from around the world at the 23rd annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC). Held in Minneapolis from Oct. 15-17, 2009, the conference comes at a pivotal point in the history of cystic fibrosis, a fatal genetic disease. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165440.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165440.php Nationwide Children's Hospital has been selected to serve as one of 13 special translational research centers in a network of 77 clinical trial sites that are part of the Therapeutics Development Network (TDN) of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The translational research centers will lead the newest Phase I clinical trials and provide scientific direction to the entire network. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165565.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165565.php DiscoveryBioMed, Inc. (DBM) announced that it has been awarded a $750,000 Small Business Innovations Research (SBIR) Phase 2 grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue the research into the discovery and development of small molecules to alleviate multiple chronic human diseases including cystic fibrosis (CF), hypertension and chronic kidney diseases with hypertension. Hypertension Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165441.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165441.php Nationwide Children's Hospital has been selected to serve as one of 13 special translational research centers in a network of 77 clinical trial sites that are part of the Therapeutics Development Network (TDN) of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The translational research centers will lead the newest Phase I clinical trials and provide scientific direction to the entire network. Cystic Fibrosis Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165414.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165414.php Eric Wedge, manager of the Cleveland Indians, is joining the fight against cystic fibrosis (CF), a fatal genetic disease. Wedge and 17-year old Michaela Mullet will star in a public service announcement (PSA) to be aired during a Cleveland Indians game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday evening, September 28. Cystic fibrosis clogs the lungs with thick mucus, causing life-threatening infections and premature death. Cystic Fibrosis Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165005.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165005.php Emily Schaller, a 27-year-old drummer with cystic fibrosis (CF), begins a 2,000-mile journey today aboard a Vespa scooter - riding from Chicago to Burbank, California, in her quest to get on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Schaller, whose singular goal is to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis, has appeared in Cystic Fibrosis Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164253.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164253.php Four members of the United States Senate introduced legislation today to allow patients with rare diseases to participate in clinical drug studies without losing their eligibility for public healthcare coverage, echoing a move by the House of Representatives last month. The "Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act" is co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Dodd (D-CT), James Inhofe (R-OK) and Richard Shelby (R-AL). Cystic Fibrosis Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164160.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164160.php In the lung, mucus is produced by cells known as goblet cells, which are present in small numbers in the walls of the lungs and airways. Many inflammatory stimuli, including allergens, cigarette smoke, and chronic infections, increase the number and activity of these goblet cells. COPD Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164016.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164016.php Kamada, a bio-pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of specialty life-saving therapeutics, announced that data on its next-generation alpha-1 antitrypsin (Inhaled-AAT) in cystic fibrosis patients was presented, at the Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) 2009, Vienna. As previously reported, the study showed that inhaled-AAT was safe and biologically effective. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163891.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163891.php Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported positive top line results from a Phase 2b clinical trial with Aeroquin, a novel aerosol formulation of levofloxacin delivered by an optimized Investigational eFlow Nebulizer System from PARI Pharma. In the Mpex cystic fibrosis trial, nebulized Aeroquin met the primary endpoint of reducing bacterial counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum after 28 days of dosing versus placebo. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163863.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163863.php A genetic analysis indicates that a certain gene variation in patients with cystic fibrosis may significantly increase their risk of developing severe liver disease, according to a study in the September 9 issue of JAMA. A small fraction (about 3 - 5 percent) of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) develop severe liver disease characterized by cirrhosis with portal hypertension (CFLD; increase in blood pressure caused by obstruction in the liver). Liver Disease / Hepatitis Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163639.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163639.php Researchers from The University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine are teaming up to try to invent a novel non-invasive lung test for cystic fibrosis sufferers. Eric Snyder, PhD, assistant professor at the UA College of Pharmacy, is the principal investigator on the study, "Quantification of Exhaled Condensate Using Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Cystic Fibrosis." Dr. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163615.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163615.php Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive data from its Phase 2b clinical trial with Aeroquin((R)) (a novel aerosol formulation of levofloxacin, MP-376) in cystic fibrosis (CF). Trial results showed that nebulized Aeroquin met the primary endpoint of reducing bacterial counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in sputum after 28 days of dosing versus placebo. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163616.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163616.php PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC) announced the initiation of a Phase 3 trial of ataluren (formerly PTC124(R)), an investigational protein restoration therapy in patients with nonsense mutation cystic fibrosis (nmCF). Patients with CF lack adequate levels of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, a chloride channel necessary for normal function of the lung, pancreas, liver, and other organs. Cystic Fibrosis Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163301.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163301.php Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered a genetic risk factor for severe liver disease in people with cystic fibrosis. Those who carry a particular variant of the SERPINA1 gene (also known as alpha-1-antitrypsin or alpha-1-antiprotease) are five times more likely to develop cirrhosis and other liver complications than patients who carry the normal version of the gene. The study, which appears in the Sept. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163034.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163034.php Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX), the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new cystic fibrosis (CF) test: the xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2. Designed with years of feedback from clinicians and technicians, the newly cleared xTAG test detects for 39 CF-causing gene mutations. Cystic Fibrosis Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162282.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162282.php Eurand N.V. (NASDAQ: EURX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its New Drug Application (NDA) for ZENPEP™ (pancrelipase) Delayed-Release Capsules for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or other conditions. Cystic Fibrosis Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161777.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161777.php CARDIOLOGY: Abnormal heartbeats caused by changes in ion channel density Two independent studies have determined how changes in the density of different ion channels in the surface membrane of heart muscle cells can lead to life-threatening abnormal heartbeats. Cardiovascular / Cardiology