DOZENS of cystic fibrosis patients can now benefit from a new ground-breaking drug at Frimley Park Hospital.

The 'life-extending' drug for cystic fibrosis, newly available on the NHS, has now been prescribed to 71 patients at Frimley Park.

Doctors say this means patients can be prescribed something to treat the disease and not just it's complications.

Cystic fibrosis is a life-shortening genetic condition affecting the movement of salt and water across the cells within the body and causing fatal lung damage.

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The new drug is now available to half of the 140 adult patients at Frimley Park’s Cystic Fibrosis Unit, one of the only 21 specialist adult clinics in England.

The ‘disease-modifying’ drug, Symkevi, has been described by patients at the hospital as a life-changing treatment.

Dr Alex Higton, a consultant chest physician who runs the adult clinic, said: “For the first time my team and I have been able to do something that treats the actual disease, not just the complications from the rest of it.

“One patient feels so much better that she has decided to come off the transplant waiting list.

“For younger patients in particular, this could be a real game-changer, offering the promise of a more normal life.”

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At present, only about half of those with the condition live to the age of 32.

In October last year, NHS England reached a deal with drug manufacturers Vertex Pharmaceuticals to enable patients to access the expensive drug – and it was made available to the NHS 30 days later.

Only patients with specific genetic mutations will be able to receive treatment from the new drug.

It is estimated about half of the 10,000 cystic fibrosis patients in the UK will benefit from Symkevi, Orkambi and Ivacaftor which were made available on the NHS as part of the deal.