Belfast-based doctor in Cystic Fibrosis breakthrough

A Belfast-based doctor has made a major breakthrough in the treatment for Cystic Fibrosis.

The Queen's University scientist - who was involved in the trials with US and Australian colleagues - has helped develop a combination therapy that improves lung function and reduces hospitalisations for patients with the most common type of the disease.

Ivacaftor is the first drug to treat the underlying causes of cystic fibrosis rather than just its symptoms.

The drug is currently approved for patients with the "celtic gene" mutation carried by about 4% of all patients, and 10-15% of sufferers in Ireland.