Pulmozyme is a commonly prescribed cystic fibrosis (CF) medicine that is unique in the way it works.
CF is a complicated disease that causes your body to produce extra-thick, sticky mucus. Pulmozyme uniquely targets one of the causes of this thick, sticky mucus - extracellular DNA - to help keep mucus thin and loose. In this innovative animation, you will learn about the roles Pulmozyme and some other common treatment options help play in a treatment plan.
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| Please see Important Safety Information |
Pulmozyme uniquely targets extracellular DNA to help keep mucus thin and loose.
You may know DNA as the code used to build the cells in the body. So you might be wondering how DNA can be a problem for mucus in the lungs.
Because of CF, bacteria can build up in extra thick mucus.
- After white blood cells fight the bacteria, they leave behind extracellular DNA that can make mucus more thick and sticky.
- Cutting up the extracellular DNA can help thin mucus.
Understanding how a pair of scissors can be used to cut something into smaller pieces can help show how Pulmozyme works.
- Laboratory studies have shown that Pulmozyme cuts apart extracellular DNA to help thin mucus by acting like an enzyme* found naturally in the body.
- By cutting up the extracellular DNA, Pulmozyme uniquely works to help keep mucus thin and loose.
*Enzymes are proteins created by the body to help speed up chemical reactions (such as the breakdown of molecules).
Pulmozyme may be an essential partner in your fight against cystic fibrosis.
Pulmozyme may help improve lung function and reduce the risk of respiratory tract infection in mild to moderate disease.*
Research has shown that patients treated with Pulmozyme can experience fewer lung infections and improved lung function. In a study of patients 5 years and older taking Pulmozyme daily, those with mild to moderate disease* had 27% fewer lung infections that required injectible antibiotics. Patients also had a 5.8% improvement in lung function compared to those not taking Pulmozyme.
* Patients had an FVC ≥40% predicted. FVC stands for forced vital capacity, a test that shows how well the lungs work. To do the test, patients usually take the deepest breath they can. Then they exhale into a sensor for as long as they can. The amount of air they exhale is their FVC score.
What do other CF medicines do?
CF is a complex disease. Your doctor will prescribe other medicines to take in addition to Pulmozyme. These medicines can include:
Antibiotics
Help to prevent and
treat infections
Bronchodilators
Help to relax
the air wall lining
Hydrators
Help to restore
airway surface liquid
Airway Clearance
Techniques
Help physically loosen
and move mucus
out of the way
Do you have questions about what you are taking? Your CF Care Team can help.
Pulmozyme is an essential part of a cystic fibrosis treatment plan.
Pulmozyme has been a standard part of CF care for over 17 years. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recommends Pulmozyme for patients six years of age and older to:
- Improve lung function, regardless of how sick the patient may be.
- Reduce serious infections in mild to moderate disease.
Pulmozyme is approved by the FDA to be used with other standard CF treatments, and it has a safety profile in children, adolescents and adults.*
For answers to common questions about how Pulmozyme works, please visit our FAQ page.
* Because of the limited experience with the administration of Pulmozyme to patients younger than five years of age, its use should be considered only for those patients for whom there is a potential benefit in lung function or a risk of respiratory infections.