Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Announces $3 Million Award to Support Development of Pancreatic Enzyme Therapy
March 19, 2015 | 2 min read

(Bethesda, Md.) -- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Inc. (CFFT), the nonprofit affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, announced today a $3 million agreement with Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc. to develop a porcine-free pancreatic enzyme therapy for people with CF who have pancreatic insufficiency.

The multiyear program will support manufacturing and clinical development of the potential enzyme therapy, liprotamase.

Anthera plans to begin a Phase 3 clinical trial for liprotamase in the third quarter of 2015. If the results are positive, Anthera will complete the clinical and regulatory activities needed to file a New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The Foundation has a long-standing commitment to making liprotamase available to people with CF,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “If successful, this drug has the potential to be an important treatment option for those with the disease.”

Over the past 15 years, the CF Foundation has advocated for the development of liprotamase. It was originally discovered and developed by Altus Pharmaceuticals, with a $25 million commitment from CFFT. In 2011, the FDA said it did not have sufficient clinical trial data to recommend the approval of liprotamase. In 2014, Anthera acquired the potential therapy from Eli Lilly and Company.   

About 90 percent of people with cystic fibrosis have pancreatic insufficiency and need to take pancreatic replacement enzymes with every meal and most snacks in order to absorb nutrients.

Anthera is a biopharmaceutical company based in Hayward, Calif.

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation funds more cystic fibrosis research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support. Based in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation also supports and accredits a national care center network that has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a model of care for a chronic disease. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization. 

Media Contact 

Laurie Fink, National Director of Media Relations, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: 301-841-2602lfink@cff.org

Share this article
Topics
About the CF Foundation | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT) | Research
Recent news
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Leads the Way in Improving CF Newborn Screening Across the U.S.
News | 5 min read
CF Foundation and Bakar Labs Announce 2024 Golden Ticket Winner
News | 4 min read
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Announces 2024 Impact Grant Recipients
News | 4 min read
Stay up to date with The Foundation

Sign up for our newsletter to get all of the latest news from The Foundation right in your inbox.

Subscribe