Vertex cystic fibrosis combo shows promise

A combination of two experimental drugs from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc showed promise for cystic fibrosis patients in the first part of a midstage study, the company said on Thursday.

Vertex said the study of VX-770 and VX-809 met the two main goals of the first part of the Phase II study: safety and tolerability; and showing effect on a protein involved in causing the disease.

Vertex said it would start the second part of the study later this year.

Cystic fibrosis is a serious inherited disease that impairs the lungs and digestive system.

Shares of Vertex soared earlier this year after VX-770 improved lung function in a late-stage trial of cystic fibrosis patients with a certain gene mutation, and the company said it would seek approval for the drug later this year.

Vertex won U.S. approval for its first commercial product, the hepatitis C medicine Incivek, last month.

(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

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(Reuters)