Cystic fibrosis sufferers' hopes dashed as gene treatment cash runs out

ancapailldorcha

A pioneering British project that is on the threshold of developing a revolutionary treatment for cystic fibrosis is facing the axe. The setback is a desperate blow for thousands of young people who suffer from the incurable wasting illness.

The £30m programme, involving a consortium of scientists from London, Oxford and Edinburgh, had reached the final stages of drug development but earlier this year ran out of cash. More than 80 scientists had been working for a decade on the treatment, funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

However, the trust has suffered a recent slump in raising funds because of the recession. As a result, the consortium's work has been suspended and unless a further £6m is raised by autumn, it will be abandoned.

"We have developed a drug," said Professor Eric Alton, the consortium's co-ordinator. "We have carried out safety tests on it. We have found that the drug works very well in many patients. We have manufactured large numbers of doses of the drug. We have lined up 200 patients to take part in the final phases of trials. But now we have had to suspend operations because our money has run out. We are already laying off staff. It is horrendous."

Seems a shame that a government which takes in £446 billion a year (Source) in tax revenue can't spare a measly £6 million for such a promising trial.

Article.

DrumSteve

hmmm this is the british gubberment right?

Pity that... looks real promising and may have offered hope to people suffering a truly horrendous disease.

thebigbiffo

yep - that is indeed very depressing.

iamwhoiam

That makes me so sad , they find money for trivilaities allright and waste it on all sorts .

NotExactly

I reckon they might get 6 million from somewhere after all the publicity this article is going to get,well I really hope so anyway.

ancapailldorcha

Fingers crossed!

who what when

I wonder if David Cameron had a child with CF would the funding be cut?

bryaner

Hope it works out, I'm doing a mizzen head to mallon head cycle for cf, my mates youngest lad has cf.

Edit: Don't think I'll make 6 mil unfortunately..

DrumSteve

No Puns yet...


...And this was posted in AH.

What's going on?

the_syco

DrumSteve wrote: »

No Puns yet...


...And this was posted in AH.

What's going on?

Eveyone is bitching about the Daily Mail bitching about the new CoD...

DrumSteve

the_syco wrote: »

Eveyone is bitching about the Daily Mail bitching about the new CoD...

Ah I seen that.

If the daily mail was suddenly shut down this place would have nowt to talk about.