Experts at Cuba's Center for Immunoassay (CIE) have developed a monoclonal antibody to enable the early detection and diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF), local media reported on Friday.
The development is to be used to screen newborns, Dr. Rebeca Gonzalez, a CIE research specialist, told online magazine Bohemia.
The product will allow the detection of the disease long before the appearance of the symptoms, said Gonzalez, adding that can significantly improve quality of life and life expectancy in patients.
CF is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine, and can lead to chronic lung disease and pancreatic insufficiency.
Cystic fibrosis refers to the characteristic fibrosis and cysts that form within the affected organs.
While medical advances in pharmacology and genetics have helped to develop new treatments to mitigate symptoms, there is no cure for the disorder as yet.
