SALT LAKE CITY, Nov 16, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A new drug undergoing a
clinical trial at the University of Utah could help some cystic fibrosis
patients' daily life and longevity, researchers said.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that causes cells to improperly
manufacture a protein resulting in the production of a thick, sticky mucus that
clogs and damages lungs and causes digestion problems.
Traditional cystic fibrosis drugs treat the symptoms of digestion problems and
lung mucus buildup.
However, the new drug VX-770 would prevent mucus from forming in the first
place. For younger patients, or those with milder cases, the drug could provide
the closest thing to a cure, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported Monday.
The trial for VX-770 focuses on a mutation that affects only about 2 percent of
the people with cystic fibrosis, but the researchers say they hope they could
adapt the drug to work for a wider population.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International