Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects more than 70,000 people worldwide, with another 1,000 diagnosed with the disease each year. There are more than 1,700 known mutations of cystic fibrosis, complicating efforts to treat the disease.
A new advancement in cystic fibrosis treatment involves growing mini-organs in a laboratory.
One of the challenges for physicians attempting to treat patients with cystic fibrosis, particularly those with a mutated version of the disease, is determining which medications will be effective for each patient. This is important for patients to provide the best treatment in a timely manner, but is also important financially as some treatments are quite expensive. Orkambi, for example, costs about 100,000 euros per year for patients in Europe, or $200,000 per year for patients in the U.S. Doctors are now attempting an innovative technique that involves growing mini-organs in a laboratory to test whether a patient will respond favorably to a certain medication. In the Netherlands, one-third of cystic fibrosis patients have had miniature clones of their own intestines grown in a laboratory. These mini-organs, known as organoids, allow doctors to effectively determine whether a new medication will benefit the patient. In the case of cystic fibrosis patients, medications are administered to the mini-organs in the laboratory. Medications that are effective will result in the organoid puffing up as the intestine begins to balance water and salt. Similar research is being conducted with other miniature organs in other countries as well. Scientists in the U.K. are developing mini-brains, researchers in the U.S. are developing mini-livers, and in Australia mini-kidneys are being developed. These organoids aid in testing drugs, as well as in researching diseases like Zika. Although there is no cure for the pulmonary disease associated with Cystic Fibrosis, early recognition and aggressive treatment can be beneficial on the course of the disease and EliTech Group provides great solutions for newborns. EliTech Group is a major contributor in improving clinical diagnosis by bringing IVD diagnostics solutions to laboratories. We manufacture and distribute diagnostic products in more than 100 countries around the world. Contact us to learn more about how our diagnostic products can benefit your medical practice.”
