Yasmina Kattou, edited by Philippe Folgado // Photo credit: MORCILLO / BSIP VIA AFP 09:35, September 24, 2023

This Saturday, it is the 39th edition of Virades de l'Espoir, an event that raises funds for the fight against cystic fibrosis and raises awareness of this disease. An event that takes place while Kaftrio, a revolutionary treatment, is made available to children aged 2 to 5 years with the disease.

Good news for 500 children aged 2 to 5 years with cystic fibrosis. They will be able to have early access to the drug Kaftrio. The High Authority for Health has issued a positive opinion on this revolutionary treatment. As of December 2022, this treatment had been authorized for children aged 6 to 11 years.

Extremely favourable outlook

"This authorization is excellent news," says David Fiant, president of the association Vaincre la Mucoviscidose, "it will allow patients aged 2 to 5 years to obtain a very effective treatment at an age when normally the symptoms of cystic fibrosis are not yet too marked". This treatment can further protect their respiratory and digestive systems.

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Studies in children aged 6 to 11 have shown a decrease in typical symptoms of the disease, such as lung infections that can go as far as very heavy intravenous antibiotic treatments. "We are also seeing the long-term risk of having irreversible lung damage that ultimately results in lung transplantation, or worse." These are therefore extremely favourable prospects for a disease that is still incurable today.