About cystetic Medicines
One simple therapy for all
of the final 10%
cystetic Medicines exists to bring accessible treatment to every person with cystic fibrosis—especially those who have waited the longest.
Our story
cystetic Medicines began with a single question, posed by a woman with cystic fibrosis to then-medical-student Martin Burke as he drew out diagrams on a whiteboard explaining cystic fibrosis on the cellular level:
“It sounds like you know exactly what’s wrong with me. Why can’t you fix it?”
Since then, Dr. Burke has devoted his career to finding an answer to that question for the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis community. In joining with Dr. Michael J. Welsh and Dr. Jeffry Weers, as well as an ever-growing supporting team, cystetic Medicines is coming closer than ever to answering it definitively.
What sets cystetic Medicines apart
Clinical validation
Leveraging a material already approved by the FDA to treat fungal infections, the drug at the center of our approach has been shown in an investigator-initiated clinical study to improve a key biomarker in the noses of people with CF not on modulators.
Simple delivery
An inhaled dry powder thathas been aerodynamically engineered at the nanoparticle level, the drug goes exactly where it’s targeted while minimizing impacts to other systems.
Commercial scalability
The dry powder technologies underpinning our approach have already been used in other existing cystic fibrosis treatments.
Democratization of care
We have designed our approach with accessibility in mind. We intend to make practical access to lifesaving treatment a reality for any member of the final 10%.
The team behind the mission
cystetic Medicines is composed of some of the best minds in drug discovery, the basic science of cystic fibrosis, and particle engineering, all working toward the promise of accessible care for every member of the final 10%.
Colin Reisner
Contributor: DevPro Biopharma
Catherine Pelc
Contributor: DevPro Biopharma
James MacDonald
Contributor: Synergy Health Partners
- Investors
- Collaborators
Investors
Deerfield Management Company
Launched in 1994, Deerfield Management Company is an investment firm dedicated to supporting companies across the healthcare ecosystems and advancing healthcare through information, investment, and philanthropy.
Illinois Ventures
Launched in 2000, Illinois Ventures manages return-focused venture funds and an evergreen fund for seed-stage start-ups from the University of Illinois System.
Collaborators
Emily’s Entourage
Led by Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, Emily’s Entourage is a fundraising organization built to accelerate research and drug development for the final 10% of people with cystic fibrosis.
Presentations and Publications
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Scientific Publications,
A rationally designed molecular prosthetic for cystic fibrosis
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Scientific Publications,
Amphotericin B induces epithelial voltage responses in people with cystic fibrosis
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Scientific Publications,
Small-molecule ion channels increase host defenses in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia