Myles Hobson is living, breathing proof, of the benefits of Kalydeco, the 'wonder drug' which is giving real hope to Cystic Fibrosis sufferers. More than a million people in Australia carry the CF gene and a child is born with the disease every four days. It is the most common, life-shortening genetic illness. There is no cure. When he began the trial at the Children's Hospital Westmead in Sydney's west, Myles Hobson, 12, was in serious physical trouble - his lung function had dropped in the 40 per cent range. Myles Hobson performs a lung function test at the Children's Hospital Westmead. His mother Karen insists he has improved dramatically in just two months on the revolutionary drug Kalydeco (Ivafactor)
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Kalydeco (Ivacaftor) is a revolutionary blue pill developed in the US and now approved for Australia's Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme (PBS)
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CF sufferers take it twice a day, it has been shown to improve lung function and help patients gain weight
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Myles Hobson, 12, was a last-minute inclusion in a trial being undertaken in at the Children's Hospital, Westmead
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His lung function has almost doubled since he began taking the medication just two months ago
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Their mother admits she 'fell apart' when told both her children had CF after watching a close friend die form the disease a few years before
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Currently the drug can only help those with a G551D mutation of Cystic Fibrosis, work continues on a version for the most common Delta F508
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More than a million Australians have the Cystic Fibrosis gene and most don't know it
Cystic Fibrosis
CF
CF
CF
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis
Regular visits to the @placeholder clinic in hospital are required to keep Myles and other CF patients well enough to do the simple things like attend school
Myles Hobson
Myles Hobson
Myles Hobson
Myles Hobson
'It's been a long and amazing few weeks and Tuesday marked two months of Kalydeco (treatment) for @placeholder,' she said.
Myles Hobson
Myles Hobson
Myles Hobson
Myles Hobson
Infections caused by bacteria in the lungs can lead to lengthy hospital stays for CF patients like @placeholder
G551D
Kalydeco (or Ivacaftor) is a pill taken twice a day for the treatment of CF in those aged six or older and who have the @placeholder mutation.