Hi Alexander,
(Disclaimer: I am a meteorologist, not a doctor <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">)
VX-809 and VX-770 address different problems within the cell. VX-770 aims to restore the chloride transport across the cell membrane and VX-809 gets the protein up to the cell surface. So if you have two DF508s, you may see improvement with VX-770 alone and even more improvement (in theory) with both drugs together. VX-770 is closer to the market than VX-809 at this point (in Phase 3 trials) so we will get to try it out first- but there are plans to evaluate the drugs in combination very soon. Luckily, both drugs have orphan status and should be pushed to the market as quickly as possible (barring any problems during the trials)
As far as permanant damage goes, I have heard reports that during some of the initial VX-770 trials, doctors were very encouraged to see individual's numbers climb to values they never thought they would see again. I am confident that we have resilient lungs and that if the underlying problem was fixed our bodies can do a lot more than we give them credit for.
I guess we will just have to wait and see!!!
(Disclaimer: I am a meteorologist, not a doctor <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">)
VX-809 and VX-770 address different problems within the cell. VX-770 aims to restore the chloride transport across the cell membrane and VX-809 gets the protein up to the cell surface. So if you have two DF508s, you may see improvement with VX-770 alone and even more improvement (in theory) with both drugs together. VX-770 is closer to the market than VX-809 at this point (in Phase 3 trials) so we will get to try it out first- but there are plans to evaluate the drugs in combination very soon. Luckily, both drugs have orphan status and should be pushed to the market as quickly as possible (barring any problems during the trials)
As far as permanant damage goes, I have heard reports that during some of the initial VX-770 trials, doctors were very encouraged to see individual's numbers climb to values they never thought they would see again. I am confident that we have resilient lungs and that if the underlying problem was fixed our bodies can do a lot more than we give them credit for.
I guess we will just have to wait and see!!!