Agent Used To Treat Brain Infarction Might Be Useful For Lung Injury
The average mortality rate of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is estimated to be 50.8 per 1,000,000 people per year. The mortality rate is now higher than recent mortality rates for a number of malignancies. Although IPF should no longer be considered a rare disease, there is no established treatment that definitely improves its outcome. Furthermore, about 10% of IPF causes a very rapid progression called "acute exacerbation".

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Highlights Cystic Fibrosis Program Targeting The CFTR Protein Responsible For Cystic Fibrosis
VX-770 Based on data presented to date, Vertex intends to work with global regulatory authorities on the design of a registration program for VX-770 which, if agreed upon, could begin in the first half of 2009.

Publication Announcement - Carrier Screening For CF In US Genetic Testing Laboratories: A Survey Of Laboratory Directors
Market pressures may have more influence on clinical practice than laboratory guidelines: That's one conclusion of a Center survey, which found that guidelines for cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier screening have only been partially adopted.

Adapting To Life With The Risk Or Reality Of Genetic Disease: Genetic Counselors Suggest Ways To Help Patients Cope
If you are afflicted with a genetic disease -- or at risk of developing one -- how do you handle it? Do you tell your loved ones? What is the best way to cope? If your loved one has a genetic disorder, how do you best adapt? New research funded by the National Human Genome Research Inst

Inspire Announces New Data From Denufosol Phase 3 Program At North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISPH) announced today the presentation of additional data from TIGER-1, the Company's first Phase 3 trial with denufosol tetrasodium for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, at the 22nd Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) in Orlando, FL on October 23 - 25, 2008.

Quicker, More Accurate Evaluation For Cystic Fibrosis Patients Promised By New Test
Researchers at National Jewish Health have identified a simple gene-based blood test that more accurately and quickly measures cystic fibrosis patients' response to therapy than current tests. The test, a measure of inflammatory gene expression, could improve patient care and help clear a backlog of promising medications now hung up in clinical trials.

Altus Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation Of Phase 3 Trizytek Efficacy Data At The North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTU) announced that the Trizytek TM (liprotamase) Phase 3 efficacy study results will be presented at oral and poster sessions at the 2008 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) in Orlando, FL on October 23 and 24. Trizytek is a non-porcine derived enzyme replacement therapy for patients with pancreatic insufficiency. The Phase 3 Trizytek efficacy results will be presented by Dr.

Aradigm Presents Phase 2 Data On Inhaled Liposomal Ciprofloxacin In Cystic Fibrosis At The North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
Aradigm Corporation (OTCBB: ARDM) it is presenting data from its Phase 2 study of inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin (ARD-3100) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients at the 22nd Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis (NACF) conference in Orlando, Florida. Completed in June 2008, the study was an open-label, two week efficacy and safety trial of once daily inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin in 22 CF patients conducted at leading CF centers in Australia and New Zealand.

PTC Announces Data Showing That PTC124 Causes Statistically Significant Improvements In Chloride Channel Function In Cystic Fibrosis Patients
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC) announced that results from a randomized Phase 2a European study demonstrated that treatment with the investigational drug PTC124 caused statistically significant improvements in the chloride channel function of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by a particular genetic mutation, called a nonsense mutation. Results from the study were presented today by Isabelle SermetGaudelus, M.D., Ph.D.

Mpex Pharmaceuticals Presents New Data On MP-376 In Cystic Fibrosis
Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced additional clinical and preclinical results with MP-376, the company's novel formulation of levofloxacin inhaled solution delivered by an Investigational eFlow Nebulizer System for use in cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical results show that aerosol dosing of MP-376 was well tolerated at all dose levels tested after 14 days of dosing.

2008 Horwitz Prize Awarded To Arthur Horwich & Ulrich Hartl For Cellular Protein Folding
Columbia University will award the 2008 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize to F. Ulrich Hartl, M.D., professor and director of the Department of Cellular Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany, and Arthur Horwich, M.D.

Kamada Reports Positive Phase II Data With Inhaled AAT In Cystic Fibrosis
Kamada (TASE:KMDA), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of specialty life-saving therapeutics, announced today positive data from its Phase II study evaluating inhaled Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) delivered via an Investigational eFlow® Nebulizer System (PARI Pharma GmbH), in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Children With Cystic Fibrosis Not Well Covered By Guidelines For Vitamin D Needs
Existing recommendations for treating vitamin D deficiency in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are too low to cover the serious need, leaving most at high risk for bone loss and rickets, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Roche NimbleGen Multiplex CGH Arrays Enable Detection Of Exonic Deletions And Duplications Associated With Muscular Dystrophy And Cystic Fibrosis
Researchers from France investigating DNA copy number changes associated with genetic disorders have reported the development and validation of a Roche NimbleGen CGH multiplex, microarray-based research method for detecting genomic deletions and duplications at high-resolution.

RegeneRx To Develop RGN-457 For Cystic Fibrosis
Regenerx Biopharmaceuticals, INC. (AMEX:RGN) announced today that it is seeking a strategic partner to assist in the development of RGN-457 for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). RGN-457 is based on thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) peptide formulated as an inhaled therapeutic agent to address this patient population. CF is a life-threatening, hereditary disease that impairs the patient's ability to breathe due to the accumulation of thick and sticky mucus secretions in the airways of the lungs.