Cystic Fibrosis: Getting the Cure First

About one in 1,000 drugs developed actually make it to the point at which it is safe, and promising to test on humans. This phase is called the “clinical trial”. It takes about 6 years of research and then another 8 years of trials before a new treatment will actually get into the average person’s hand.

Why the wait? Well, it takes months, if not years, to see if a treatment is effective. But, the biggest barrier is a shortage of people taking part. Whether it’s the perceived risk, or just the lack on interest, only 5% of patients will take part in a clinical trial.

That’s a shame, too, because the risk versus the reward is extremely low, meaning the chances of something bad happening are significantly lower than your chance of being one of the first people to get a cure.

That’s why the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) recently unveiled their new initiative, attempting to double the number of participants in the next two years. The CFF has nearly 30 promising cystic fibrosis treatments waiting to enter the next phase, but more than 1,000 people are needed for that alone.

Cystic Fibrosis: Getting the Cure First

"We are on the brink of many exciting new treatments for cystic fibrosis," says CFF vice-president of medical affairs, Preston W. Campbell III, M.D. The only challenge: getting enough public support (volunteers) to keep progress moving forward.

The overall plan is to simply educate cystic fibrosis patients about the need, benefit, and opportunities involved with clinical trials. The major barrier for most people, when questioned why they hadn’t participated in a trial, was that no one had asked them.

So consider this the official proposition. To over 30,000 adults and children suffering from the life-threatening disease known as cystic fibrosis, you are hereby asked: will you become part of the cure?