Breakthrough cystic fibrosis drug that extends life by decades earns its developers a $250,000 'American Nobel'

Three scientists won the $250,000 Lasker-DeBakey Award for developing Trikafta, a groundbreaking cystic fibrosis treatment. The drug extends patients' lifespans by decades, with those starting treatment young expected to live to about 65 years—compared to early childhood deaths when CF was first discovered in the 1930s. Their research identified how the genetic mutation affects ion transport in cells and developed a combination therapy that effectively treats most CF patients, reducing hospitalizations and improving quality of life.