Chiesi is also focusing its attention on the treatment and care of patients suffering from chronic severe conditions treated primarily by specialists in the hospital setting, which can be potentially life threatening: Cystic Fibrosis and Solid Organ Transplantation.  Thanks to our commitment in Special Care, we offer patients affected by severe pathologies of strong social impact innovative solutions to improve their quality of life.

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary genetic disease. A mutation of the CF gene causes an alteration in a protein called CFTR, which regulates the exchange of sodium chloride and water through cell membranes. The organs most affected by the disease are the lungs and the pancreas; in the former, thick, sticky secretions occur, thus helping to create the ideal environment for the development of bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, meaning that sufferers are prone to recurrent infections and inflammation, which can in turn also represent serious conditions such as pneumonia.

Chronic inflammatory processes can damage lung tissue over the course of time and subsequently lead to impaired respiratory function, which is the main cause of mortality in these patients. The symptoms of infection are numerous and the degree of severity varies from case to case and from moment to moment: persistent cough, breathing difficulties, expectoration, reduced stamina for physical activity, loss of appetite, a sense of feeling generally unwell and temperature.

Kidney and liver transplantation

Organ failure happens when an organ loses its ability to perform its physiological functions, and this creates a potential threat to both the quality of life and the survival of the patient.

The kidneys cover various physiological functions, ranging from filtering the blood to remove waste products to maintaining the electrolyte balance, and regulating the production of red blood cells via the hormone erythropoietin. Regarding renal impairment, its severity is usually quantified through laboratory analysis, ranging from mild (grade 1-2) to end-stage disease (grade 5). The latter has two possible therapeutic approaches, either dialysis or transplantation. The first is a palliative treatment where an external machine replaces the filtering function of the kidney. Although effective, in most cases this approach requires the patient to return frequently to the hospital for long and unpleasant sessions. In the event of transplantation, however, a new and functioning kidney (a graft) is added through a surgical procedure to recover the lost function.

For patients with liver failure, the situation is even more complex. A functioning liver is in fact absolutely essential for survival and, at the moment, there is no corresponding palliative therapy such as dialysis for patients with severe hepatic impairment. The only therapeutic approach is therefore represented by a transplant. Unlike renal transplant, the original liver is removed during the surgical procedure and then replaced by a new organ.

The main limiting factors for transplants are two: the presence of organs, which remains significantly lower than demand, and the biological and immunological compatibility between donor and recipient. The immune system protects the human body from external pathogens by recognizing its own cells and tissues from foreign ones. During a transplant, the patient's immune system reacts against the new organ as if it were foreign tissue, and this can lead to its rejection. The standard for preventing organ rejection is a combination of immunosuppressive drugs designed to sufficiently reduce the reactivity of the immune system - to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ on the one hand, and on the other - there should be no increased risk of opportunistic infections for the patient. The treatment is administered throughout the entire life of the transplanted organ. The average survival of a transplanted kidney is approximately 10 years and is slightly lower for a transplanted liver.

Immunosuppressants, aimed at preserving transplanted organs, are part of Chiesi's portfolio, which contributes to increase the success rate of transplant procedures and improving the quality of life of patients.