HEALTH CARE

Cystic Fibrosis Drug Moves Forward: The first new drug therapy for cystic fibrosis in 30 years won unanimous approval from a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee. The drug, dornase alfa, was found in a pivotal study to reduce infections and to improve the quality of life for stable cystic fibrosis patients over age 5. The drug’s manufacturer, South San Francisco-based Genentech Inc., reported that dornase alfa reduces lung infections by breaking up the thick mucus that is the major complication of cystic fibrosis. Genentech, which conducted the study on more than 900 patients over six months, is applying for a license to market dornase alfa under the brand name Pulmozyme. The committee’s approval is not binding on the FDA, but the agency usually follows its recommendations.