FDA approves cystic fibrosis combination treatment: 4 things to know

The FDA approved Vertex Pharmaceutical's third treatment for cystic fibrosis Monday, according to Reuters.

Here are four things to know.

1. The new treatment combines Vertex's previously approved drug Kalydeco with another medicine called tezacaftor to treat cystic fibrosis.

2. The new combination treatment, which will be sold under the brand name Symdeko, is expected to form the backbone for a triple combination in future years.

3. The current medications can help about 45 percent of the CF population. Vertex believes a triple combination medicine could end up helping 90 percent of the population.

4. Symdeko is approved for cystic fibrosis patients 12 years and older who have at least one mutation responsive to tezacaftor or two copies of the F508del gene mutation.

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