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Approximately 5% of patients with cystic fibrosis express one allele with some retained CFTR function. In a prospective trial, tezacaftor–ivacaftor had a greater effect on increasing FEV 1 than ivacaftor alone, and both ivacaftor alone and the combination were more effective than placebo.

Ivacaftor, a potentiator of CFTR, was studied in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who had mutations that reduced the function of the CFTR protein. Ivacaftor significantly improved FEV 1 and reduced pulmonary exacerbations; it holds promise in the treatment of selected patients with CF. Cystic fibrosis, the most common lethal genetic disease in whites, affects approximately 70,000 people worldwide. 1 – 3 There is no cure for this disease, and the progressive lung disease associated with it is the leading cause of death. Current treatments for cystic fibrosis target the secondary effects of dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The CFTR protein is an epithelial ion channel contributing to the regulation of absorption and secretion of salt and water in various tissues, including the lung, sweat glands, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. 4 , 5 Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in CFTR that affect . . .

Triple treatment with elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor in patients with cystic fibrosis who had one Phe508del allele and a minimal-function mutation resulted in sustained improvement in FEV 1 , sweat chloride concentration, and the number of pulmonary exacerbations.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators correct the basic defect caused by CFTR mutations. Improvements in health outcomes have been achieved with the combination of a CFTR corrector and potentiator in people with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the F508del mutation. The addition of elexacaftor (VX-445), a next-generation CFTR corrector, to tezacaftor plus ivacaftor further improved F508del-CFTR function and clinical outcomes in a phase 2 study in people with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the F508del mutation. This phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled trial of elexacaftor in combination with tezacaftor plus ivacaftor was done at 44 sites in four countries. Eligible participants were those with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the F508del mutation, aged 12 years or older with stable disease, and with a percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppFEV1) of 40–90%, inclusive. After a 4-week tezacaftor plus ivacaftor run-in period, participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to 4 weeks of elexacaftor 200 mg orally once daily plus tezacaftor 100 mg orally once daily plus ivacaftor 150 mg orally every 12 h versus tezacaftor 100 mg orally once daily plus ivacaftor 150 mg orally every 12 h alone. The primary outcome was the absolute change from baseline (measured at the end of the tezacaftor plus ivacaftor run-in) in ppFEV1 at week 4. Key secondary outcomes were absolute change in sweat chloride and Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised respiratory domain (CFQ-R RD) score. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03525548. Between Aug 3 and Dec 28, 2018, 113 participants were enrolled. Following the run-in, 107 participants were randomly assigned (55 in the elexacaftor plus tezacaftor plus ivacaftor group and 52 in the tezacaftor plus ivacaftor group) and completed the 4-week treatment period. The elexacaftor plus tezacaftor plus ivacaftor group had improvements in the primary outcome of ppFEV1 (least squares mean [LSM] treatment difference of 10·0 percentage points [95% CI 7·4 to 12·6], p<0·0001) and the key secondary outcomes of sweat chloride concentration (LSM treatment difference −45·1 mmol/L [95% CI −50·1 to −40·1], p<0·0001), and CFQ-R RD score (LSM treatment difference 17·4 points [95% CI 11·8 to 23·0], p<0·0001) compared with the tezacaftor plus ivacaftor group. The triple combination regimen was well tolerated, with no discontinuations. Most adverse events were mild or moderate; serious adverse events occurred in two (4%) participants receiving elexacaftor plus tezacaftor plus ivacaftor and in one (2%) receiving tezacaftor plus ivacaftor. Elexacaftor plus tezacaftor plus ivacaftor provided clinically robust benefit compared with tezacaftor plus ivacaftor alone, with a favourable safety profile, and shows the potential to lead to transformative improvements in the lives of people with cystic fibrosis who are homozygous for the F508del mutation. Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

This preclinical, phase 2 report shows that VX-445, a CFTR potentiator when administered with tezacaftor and ivacaftor, improved lung function and reduced sweat chloride concentrations and symptoms in patients harboring one or two Phe508del alleles.

Aripiprazole was initially approved to treat schizophrenia and later approved for bipolar mania, as a monotherapy and an adjunctive therapy (manic or mixed episodes), and for irritability associated with autism. Aripiprazole is a partial agonist at dopamine D 2 and D 3 and serotonin 5-HT 1A receptors, and is an antagonist at 5-HT 2a receptors. This profile, and convincing preliminary data from small-scale studies, provided the rationale for the large-scale exploration of aripiprazole for unipolar depression. Recently, three 6-week, large-scale, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrated clinically meaningful efficacy for aripiprazole as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). In November 2007, aripiprazole was approved by the US FDA as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for treating MDD, with support from two of the above-mentioned trials. In the trials, aripiprazole was demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated, and showed a minimal trend for weight gain over the course of a 6-week treatment. The incidence of akathisia was higher than that reported in studies of patients with schizophrenia; however, most cases were mild to moderate and infrequently lead to discontinuation (5/1090 from all three trials). This comprehensive review provides an overview of the data from all three 6-week studies (including a pooled analysis) and from an unpublished 52-week, open-label extension study, to inform physicians and facilitate reasonable treatment decisions. In addition, specific issues associated with the use of aripiprazole as an adjunctive therapy in patients with MDD, including possible early treatment effect, appropriate timing of therapy initiation, appropriate dosing and duration of treatment, possible differential effect on depressive subgroups and long-term tolerability, are also discussed.

This study identified a new combination therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the Phe508del CFTR mutation. Treatment with ivacaftor, a CFTR potentiator, and lumacaftor, a CFTR corrector, resulted in improvement in pulmonary function and clinical status. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that is associated with high rates of premature death. 1 – 4 It is a multisystem disease that is characterized by pancreatic insufficiency and chronic airway infections associated with loss of lung function, repeated pulmonary exacerbations, and, ultimately, respiratory failure. 5 Cystic fibrosis is caused by gene mutations that result in deficient or dysfunctional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, an anion channel that is normally present in the epithelial membrane. Phe508del (c.1521_1523delCTT; formerly F508del) is the most common CFTR mutation; approximately 45% of patients with cystic fibrosis are homozygous for this allele. 1 Cystic fibrosis is . . .

This randomized trial compared a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) plus a glucocorticoid with a LABA plus a long-acting muscarinic antagonist for preventing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The exacerbation rate was lower with the latter treatment. Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with an accelerated decline in lung function, 1 – 3 impaired quality of life, 4 hospitalization, 5 and increased mortality. 6 COPD exacerbations are costly to health care systems. 7 Thus, prevention of exacerbations is a key goal in the management of COPD. 8 Inhaled long-acting bronchodilators not only control symptoms but also prevent COPD exacerbations. 9 – 12 Inhaled glucocorticoids are also known to reduce the frequency of exacerbations and have been studied in combination with inhaled long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs). 11 , 13 , 14 In one trial, the combination of a LABA plus an inhaled glucocorticoid (salmeterol–fluticasone) in fixed doses and . . .

This companion article to the VX-445 report shows that VX-659, a new CFTR potentiator, when administered with tezacaftor and ivacaftor improved lung function, sweat chloride concentration, and symptoms in patients with cystic fibrosis who harbored one or two Phe508del alleles.

•Brexpiprazole OSF is a novel formulation aimed for the treatment of schizophrenia.•Brexpiprazole OSF can be administered with or without water.•Brexpiprazole OSF 2 mg is bioequivalent to brexpiprazole ODT 2 mg.•Brexpiprazole OSF and ODT 2 mg exhibit comparable safety profiles.•Brexpiprazole OSF may provide a viable treatment option for schizophrenia patients. Brexpiprazole oral soluble film (OSF) is a novel dosage form under clinical development indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. This study aimed to investigate the bioequivalence, safety and tolerability of brexpiprazole OSF 2 mg compared with brexpiprazole orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) 2 mg (Rexulti®OD) in healthy Chinese adults. A single-center, randomized, open-label, single-dose, crossover study was conducted, including a six-sequence three-period crossover intervention under fasting condition and a two-sequence two-period crossover intervention under postprandial condition. Pharmacokinetic sampling for brexpiprazole was carried out until 72 hours after dosing with a 28-day washout period. Participants were monitored for any adverse events throughout the study. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time 0 to 72 hours (AUC0-72h) were statistically analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model for bioequivalence evaluation. In the fasting trial, 30 eligible individuals were enrolled and completed the study. Compared to brexpiprazole ODT 2 mg administered without water, the geometric mean ratios for Cmax and AUC0-72h of brexpiprazole OSF 2 mg taken without or with water were all close to 100%, and the corresponding 90% confidence intervals were within the established bioequivalence limit of 80.00–125.00%. In the postprandial trial, 26 participants were randomized and 2 participants withdrew from the study during the washout period. The bioequivalence range of Cmax and AUC0-72h for brexpiprazole OSF and ODT 2 mg administered without water were both within 80.00–125.00%. Generally, both formulations of brexpiprazole displayed comparable safety profiles, with no serious or unexpected adverse events reported during the study. Brexpiprazole OSF 2 mg is bioequivalent to brexpiprazole ODT 2 mg with favorable safety, tolerability and acceptability under fasting and postprandial conditions. Due to its ease of administration, brexpiprazole OSF 2 mg may be expected to improve medication adherence, and provide a viable treatment option for patients with schizophrenia.