Clinical trial for cystic fibrosis drug

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- 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.