| 1938 |
First comprehensive medical report of cystic fibrosis (CF) being a separate disease by Dr. Dorothy Andersen. |
| 1953 |
During a heat wave in New York City, Dr. Paul di Sant’Agnese and others connect the extra loss of salt by people with CF with the basic defect in the disease.
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| 1955 |
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation became incorporated as the National CF Research Foundation and awards the first research grants to Drs. di Sant’Agnese, Andersen and Shwachman. |
| 1961 |
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care center program begins with two centers being established. |
| 1962 |
Predicted median survival increases to about 10 years. |
| 1962 |
A total of 30 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care centers are now in operation. |
| 1965 |
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation expands its support of basic science to find answers about this complex disease. |
| 1966 |
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation launches a patient data registry that includes the history of patients seen at CF Foundation-accredited care centers. |
| 1978 |
The number of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care centers now total 125. |
| 1980 |
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation creates the Research Development Program, a network of research centers of excellence established at leading universities nationwide. |
| 1988 |
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation launches the Cystic Fibrosis Services Pharmacy. |
| 1989 |
A team of scientists supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation discovers the defective CF gene and its protein product (CFTR) thus opening the door to understanding the disease at its most basic level. |
| 1990 |
CF researchers achieve “proof of concept” that gene therapy (in the lab dish) is possible. |
| 1993 |
Landmark gene therapy trial begins in people with CF. |
| 1994 |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Pulmozyme, which was proven to thin the thick sticky mucus in the lungs. the first drug developed specifically for CF. |
| 1997 |
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation establishes the Therapeutics Development Program. |
| 1997 |
The FDA approves TOBI, the first aerosolized antibiotic designed for CF. |
| 1998 |
Specialized clinical research centers are designated as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Therapeutics Development Network. |
| 2000 |
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, the drug discovery and development affiliate of the CF Foundation was established to govern drug discovery and development efforts. |
| 2000 |
Scientists supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation map the entire genetic structure of the most common cause of CF lung infections-the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium. Researchers can identify the function of specific genes and find ways (drugs) to turn off the bad ones. |
| 2002 |
A Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics-supported study shows azithromycin improves CF lung health. |
| 2003 |
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics-supported scientists at Structural GenomiX, Inc. determine the 3-dimensional structure of a portion of the CFTR protein opening the door to more drug discovery opportunities. |
| 2004 |
More than 24 potential CF therapies are in the drug development pipeline. |
| 2005 |
Predicted median age of survival increases to nearly 37 years. |
| 2006 |
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics-supported studies in Australia and UNC show that hypertonic saline helps clear CF mucus and becomes a therapeutic option. |
| 2006 |
The first compound for CF, discovered through high-throughput screening at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, begins clinical trials. |
| 2006 |
Inspire Pharmaceuticals begins Phase 3 clinical trials of its innovative denufosol drug to hydrate and clear CF mucus. |
| 2007 |
VX-770, a potentiator candidate developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, entered Phase 2 testing. This drug may restore the function of the CFTR protein. Vertex also is working to develop corrector candidates, which aim to improve the function of the CFTR. |
