Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive lethal disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes for CFTR, an epithelial cell-surface expressed protein responsible for the transport of chloride (Cl-). Gating mutations associated with defective conductance can be modulated by CFTR potentiators. Ivacaftor is a CFTR potentiator approved for the treatment of CF patients >6 yrs of age with at least one copy of the G551D-CFTR mutation. Herein, the clinical trial development programme for ivacaftor will be reviewed, including two pivotal studies in adolescents/adults and in children. These studies report sustained improvements in lung function and sweat chloride concentrations, and a reduction in pulmonary exacerbations over a 48-week treatment period. In the era of personalised medicine, ivacaftor offers an effective and well-tolerated treatment for the clinical management of CF patients with the G551D mutation. A long-term, open-label study will report the effects of ivacaftor over a further 48 weeks.
Footnotes
Provenance
Publication of this peer-reviewed article was supported by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA (principal sponsor, European Respiratory Review issue 127).
Statement of Interest
I. Sermet-Gaudelus has received speaker honorarium and reimbursement for attending a symposium from Vertex Inc.
- Received December 20, 2012.
- Accepted January 7, 2013.
- ©ERS 2013