Innovative therapies in genetic diseases: Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis, also named mucoviscidosis, is the most frequent hereditary pulmonary disease and is produced by mutations in the CFTR gene, encoding an anionic channel for chloride and bicarbonate involved in the regulation of salt and bicarbonate metabolisms. Currently, about half of the patients with cystic fibrosis can benefit personalized therapy consisting in modulators, drugs which restore or improve the functionality and stability of CFTR. Moreover, presently, other therapies, such as gene therapy using the CRISP/CAS-9, modified antisense oligonucleotides or the insertion of the wild-type gene using nanolipidic particles or viral vectors, are being developed. This article aims to take stock of the principal types of cystic fibrosis therapies which have been approved or are in clinical trials.