It was a pleasure and a privilege to attend and present the work of #Disperazol^® at the 2023 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Arizona from 2 to 4 November. This was our first opportunity to attend an NACFC conference and it definitely lived up to expectations. Eleven different topic tracks in the programme covered all aspects of living with, working with and researching cystic fibrosis (CF). Pleasingly, at the centre of all of these tracks was the patient and their family.

Highly effective modulator therapy and infection

On the scientific side of things, one of the topics that was of particular interest was the ongoing evolution of an understanding of the impact of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators on chronic bacterial lung infections in people with CF. Effective action of CFTR potentiators and correctors mean that mucus can now be cleared from CF lungs in the same way as it is from non-CF lungs. The action of this highly effective modulator therapy minimises opportunity for bacterial infections to flare-up, reducing the need for the prophylactic antibiotic treatment that has historically been a mainstay of CF management. As we celebrate World AMR Awareness Week this week, we can rightly think of CFTR modulators as a stride forward in how we manage AMR within CF.  

CFTR modulators and biofilms 

Although CFTR modulators have an indirect impact on antimicrobial resistance in the CF population, they do not alter the fundamental make-up of an individual’s microbiome. They do not therefore have an effect on existing bacterial biofilms that can perpetuate chronic bacterial lung infections in people with CF.

Disperazol^® bridges the gap

This would be where #Disperazol^® would come into play as a disruptor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. P. aeruginosa biofilms remain one of the key drivers of chronic respiratory infection in CF. #Disperazol^® has consistently shown itself to be an effective disruptor of P. aeruginosa biofilms in animal models and to provide the basis for eradication of these biofilms when used together with conventionally used antibiotics. 

As biofilms take centre stage this week during #BiofilmWeek and #WAAW, #Disperazol^® is pleased to take a bow, and to take its place alongside the other non-traditional approaches to managing AMR that are under development.