Emerging Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Modulators as New Drugs for Cystic Fibrosis: A Portrait of in Vitro Pharmacology and Clinical Translation

Abstract

Pharmacological correction of the defective ion channel with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) has become an attractive approach to therapy directed at the root cause of the life-limiting disease cystic fibrosis (CF). CFTR defects range from absence, misfolding, and resulting degradation to functional defects of the CFTR protein. The discovery and development of the CFTR potentiator ivacaftor was a major break-through in CF therapy and has triggered an enormous incentive for seeking effective modulators such as lumacaftor, tezacaftor or elexacaftor for all patients with CF. A number of emerging CFTR modulators are currently in the development pipeline, and rescue lev..