Lumacaftor Explained

Lumacaftor (VX-809) is a pharmaceutical drug that acts as a chaperone during protein folding and increases the number of CFTR proteins that are trafficked to the cell surface. It is available in a single pill with ivacaftor; the combination, lumacaftor/ivacaftor (brand name Orkambi), is used to treat people with cystic fibrosis who are homozygous for the F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, the defective protein that causes the disease.[1] It was developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and the combination was approved by the FDA in 2015.[2] As of 2015, lumacaftor had no medical use on its own.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/206038Orig1s000lbl.pdf Lumacaftor label
  2. Web site: Orkambi (lumacaftor and ivacaftor). CenterWatch. 24 March 2016.
  3. Kuk K, Taylor-Cousar JL . Lumacaftor and ivacaftor in the management of patients with cystic fibrosis: current evidence and future prospects . Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease . 9 . 6 . 313–26 . December 2015 . 26416827 . 10.1177/1753465815601934 . free .