Breakthrough In Cystic Fibrosis Study

A scientist from Queen's University Belfast has played a key role in the development of treatment for cystic fibrosis sufferers.

Professor Stuart Elborn, alongside colleagues from the United States and Australia, has helped to develop a combination therapy that improves lung function and reduces hospitalisations for patients with the most common type of cystic fibrosis.

The medication, Ivacaftor, is the first drug to treat the underlying causes of cystic fibrosis rather than just the symptoms. It is currently approved for patients with the 'celtic gene' mutation, which is carried by around 4% of all patients, and up to 15% of patients in Ireland.

Professor Stuart Elborn, Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast, and the European lead on the study, explained: "This is a very significant breakthrough for people with cystic fibrosis. While we had previously found an effective treatment for those with the 'celtic gene' this new combination treatment has the potential to help roughly half of those with cystic fibrosis, those who have two copies the F508DEL mutation.

"This is another example of how Queen's scientists are working internationally to change lives around the world."

Cystic fibrosis is a fatal lung disease affecting 75,000 children and adults world-wide, and is caused by inherited genetic mutations that vary among different patient groups.

(JP)