A phase three clinical trial that the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center participated in has determined that a three-drug combination improved lung function and reduced symptoms in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who have a single copy of the most common genetic mutation for the disease. Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration approved the therapy based on the results of this international study, published online on October 31, 2019 and in the November 7, 2019 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The article is titled “Elexacaftor–Tezacaftor–Ivacaftor for Cystic Fibrosis with a Single Phe508del Allele.” A companion investigation, appearing simultaneously in The Lancet, reported on people with one or two copies of the mutation. The Lancet article, published online on October 31, 2019 and in the November 23, 2019 issue, is titled “Efficacy and Safety of the Elexacaftor Plus Tezacaftor Plus Ivacaftor Combination Regimen in People with Cystic Fibrosis Homozygous for the F508del Mutation: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Phase 3 Trial.” A commentary article (“Entering the Era of Highly Effective CFTR Modulator Therapy”) also appears in The Lancet. Raksha Jain (photo), MD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, is corresponding author of the NEJM article and an investigator on The Lancet study. Dr. Jain presented both studies at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference 2019 in Nashville October 31 to November 2. CF is a chronic, progressive, and frequently fatal genetic disease that affects the respiratory and digestive systems in children and young adults. The sweat glands and the reproductive system are usually also involved. Individuals with CF have a shortened lifespan.Login Or Register To Read Full Story