New $15 million agreement set up to develop drugs for cystic fibrosis

Structural GenomiX (SGX) will provide its technology to help generate new lead compounds that will function as correctors of the delta F508 mutation in sufferers of cystic fibrosis. Correctors of the delta F508 mutation are designed to increase the amount of the protein that is transported to the cell surface, improving breathing and chloride transport and reducing the risk of lung infection.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will provide over $15m in technology access, research funding and milestone payments to SGX, and will also be responsible for product development.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting 30,000 people in the US. It is caused when a defective gene causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus that results in severe lung infections and causes pancreatic insufficiency, which impairs digestion.

“Our work with SGX over the past four years has produced significant advances in understanding the cellular defects that cause this difficult disease,” said Robert Beall, CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “We are excited about the opportunities for SGX under this new drug discovery agreement to move us even closer to developing an effective treatment for people living with cystic fibrosis.”