Latest news with #CF
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Six found guilty in Compensation Fund payment scam
Six fraudsters confessed to rerouting Compensation Fund payments to personal bank accounts through fake medical providers. A group known as the 'Capitec Group' has pleaded guilty to assisting a scam that involved redirecting payments from the Compensation Fund (CF) into personal bank accounts. 'Capitec Group' has no affiliation with Capitec Bank South Africa. The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has found six accused guilty of contravening Section 5 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998, for assisting another person to benefit from the proceeds of unlawful activities. The six accused, Phumzile Ivy Ngubane (48), Thuleleni Joyce Ngubane (44), Delisile Constance Ngubane (62), Busisiwe Brenda Masango (43), Gunther Nsibande (51) and Nhlanhla Mkhabela, pleaded guilty on Tuesday. 'Capitec Group' redirected Compensation Fund payouts into their accounts The accused, dubbed the 'Capitec Group', were part of what is believed to be a syndicate that embezzled funds from the CF. The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the administration of the Department of Labour. The CF offers cover for workers who sustain injuries and/or contract illnesses at work. ALSO READ: Gauteng's 'debt collector' move against the RAF and Compensation Fund 'The syndicate made misrepresentations to the Compensation Fund, which gave rise to the fund making payments to entities purporting to be medical aid providers supposedly to the benefit of legitimate claimants,' Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela said. As a result, the fund deposited money into the bank accounts of the medical service providers, using the bank account details recorded in the fund's system. Investigations further revealed that the suspects owned the bank accounts used to receive the payments and that these medical service providers were not registered in accordance with the regulations. Sentencing in November The matter has been postponed to 3 November 2025 for sentencing. This is not the first time criminals have defrauded the fund by altering the personal details of claimants and redirecting payments to assumed accounts. ALSO READ: Labour department to temporary shut-down ROE online system: Here are the affected services In December 2018, three former CF employees—Maxwell Ramaphosa, Samuel Mfeleng, and Kgabo Johanna Methi—were sentenced for defrauding the fund of R476 150. Ramaphosa and Mfeleng received 12-year sentences, while Methi got six years. The trio, who colluded with physiotherapist Dr Jones Modau to create fictitious claims, were convicted of fraud and money laundering.
Business Wire
8 hours ago
- Health
- Business Wire
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Commits Up to an Additional $24 Million for Prime Medicine to Develop Gene Editing Therapy
BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announced an additional investment of up to $24 million in Prime Medicine to continue the development of a gene editing therapy for people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Prime Medicine uses a gene editing technology called prime editing — a technology that enables a wide range of modifications to the DNA with a high degree of precision. The company — founded by Drs. David Liu and Andrew Anzalone, who pioneered the development of this unique editing technology — is investigating whether prime editing could treat several diseases, including CF. The CF Foundation's initial investment in Prime Medicine supported work to demonstrate the versatility of prime editing to correct multiple CF-causing mutations in the lab. This additional investment by the CF Foundation will focus on the development of a prime editing therapy targeting the nonsense mutation G542X — one of the most prevalent CF-causing nonsense mutations and one for which there are no available therapies. 'We believe gene editing offers the best hope for a cure for cystic fibrosis because it could permanently correct the mutations that cause this disease,' said Michael P. Boyle, MD, president and chief executive officer of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 'Our investment will help support gene editing research for CF through early development stages, including efforts to overcome the challenges of delivery to the lungs.' As part of its ongoing efforts to develop a prime editing therapy, Prime Medicine is investigating the best way to deliver its gene editing treatment to the lungs of people with CF, a major challenge because of the thick, sticky mucus that clogs the airways and the body's natural immune response to block foreign entities from entering cells. If successful, the gene editing cargo will enter the lung cells that normally make CFTR protein and correct the CFTR mutation in the cell's DNA, resulting in a potentially permanent fix to the CFTR gene. With continued advancement in prime editing and delivery to the lungs, this technology may eventually be used to correct many types of CF mutations. Prime Medicine is advancing multiple approaches in CF, including 'hotspot,' which uses prime editing to make smaller corrections to specific CFTR mutations and PASSIGE, which uses prime editing to make large gene insertions. These combined strategies eliminate the need to develop new prime editing therapies for each individual mutation. Previously, the Foundation committed up to $15 million to Prime Medicine to pursue development of their gene editing technology for CF. About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation funds more CF research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support. Based in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation also supports and accredits a national care center network that has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a model of care for a chronic disease. The CF Foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization. For more information, visit
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Prime Medicine Announces Additional Funding of Up to $24 Million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to Advance Prime Editing Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis
-- Expanded funding builds on the initial agreement to accelerate development of Prime Editors for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) -- -- Prime Medicine to receive up to $24 million in additional funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation -- -- Multiple hotspot Prime Editors may benefit more than 93% of people with CF -- CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRME), a biotechnology company committed to delivering a new class of differentiated one-time curative genetic therapies, today announced that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CF Foundation) has agreed to provide the Company with up to $24 million in additional funding to accelerate the development of Prime Editors designed to permanently correct cystic fibrosis-related lung disease. The CF Foundation's additional investment builds on initial funding received under Prime Medicines' January 2024 agreement, and reflects its interest in Prime Editing as a potentially curative approach for CF. Prime Editing can correct a wide range of genetic mutations, and Prime Medicine intends to leverage the technology's versatility and modularity to address multiple disease-causing mutations, potentially treating the vast majority of people with CF. Prime Medicine will initially focus on a program targeting G542X, one of the most prevalent CF-causing nonsense mutations and one for which there are no available therapies. In addition, the Company will continue to advance hotspot and PASSIGE-based approaches for other mutations with funding received from the CF Foundation under its initial commitment in 2024. 'We are honored to receive continued support from the CF Foundation, whose longstanding commitment to driving innovation has reshaped the treatment landscape for people living with CF,' said Allan Reine, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Prime Medicine. 'This additional funding reflects our shared belief in the transformative potential of Prime Editing therapy for people with this devastating genetic disease, especially for those where the current standard of care is either ineffective or poorly tolerated. This funding also exemplifies our strategic approach to business development, and our commitment within Prime Medicine to leveraging external resources to accelerate innovation and ensure the broadest application of our technology.' The CF Foundation will provide Prime Medicine with up to $24 million in two tranches, subject to certain closing conditions and scientific milestones; the first tranche includes a $6 million equity investment in Prime Medicine. About Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a serious, inherited genetic disease caused by mutations in the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene. These mutations result in reduced or absent function of the CFTR protein, which is critical for maintaining the balance of salt and fluids across epithelial surfaces in organs such as the lungs, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. When CFTR is not functioning properly, thick, sticky mucus accumulates, leading to chronic lung infections, progressive respiratory decline, and impaired digestion and nutrient absorption. CF affects approximately 100,000 people globally, including over 40,000 in the United States. While disease-modifying therapies have improved outcomes for many individuals, they are not curative and are ineffective for some people with certain mutations. There remains a significant unmet need for a one-time, potentially curative treatment that can address the underlying genetic cause of CF across diverse genotypes. About Prime Medicine Prime Medicine is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to creating and delivering the next generation of gene editing therapies to patients. The Company is deploying its proprietary Prime Editing platform, a versatile, precise and efficient gene editing technology, to develop a new class of differentiated one-time curative genetic therapies. Designed to make only the right edit at the right position within a gene while minimizing unwanted DNA modifications, Prime Editors have the potential to repair almost all types of genetic mutations and work in many different tissues, organs and cell types. Taken together, Prime Editing's versatile gene editing capabilities could unlock opportunities across thousands of potential indications. Prime Medicine is currently progressing a diversified portfolio of investigational therapeutic programs organized around our core areas of focus: liver, lung, and immunology and oncology. Across each core area, Prime Medicine is focused initially on a set of high value programs, each targeting a disease with well-understood biology and a clearly defined clinical development and regulatory path, and each expected to provide the foundation for expansion into additional opportunities. Over time, the Company intends to maximize Prime Editing's broad and versatile therapeutic potential, as well as the modularity of the Prime Editing platform, to rapidly and efficiently expand beyond the diseases in its current pipeline, potentially including additional genetic diseases, immunological diseases, cancers, infectious diseases, and targeting genetic risk factors in common diseases, which collectively impact millions of people. For more information, please visit © 2025 Prime Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. PRIME MEDICINE, the Prime Medicine logos, and PASSIGE are trademarks of Prime Medicine, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements about Prime Medicine's beliefs and expectations regarding: the agreement with the CF Foundation and the intended and potential benefits thereof, including the receipt of payments based on scientific milestones; the potential for Prime Editing to correct the causative mutations of diseases, including CF; the potential for Prime Editing to treat the vast majority of people with CF; the continued advancement of hotspot and PASSIGE-based approaches for correcting mutations other than G542X; the breadth of Prime Editing technology and the implementation of its strategic plans for its business, programs, and technology; and the potential of Prime Editing as a transformative gene editing technology and its ability to unlock opportunities across thousands of potential indications Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks associated with: uncertainties related to Prime Medicine's product candidates entering clinical trials; the authorization, initiation, and conduct of preclinical and IND-enabling studies and other development requirements for potential product candidates, including uncertainties related to opening INDs and obtaining regulatory approvals; risks related to the development and optimization of new technologies, the results of preclinical studies, or clinical studies not being predictive of future results in connection with future studies; the scope of protection Prime Medicine is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its Prime Editing technology; Prime Medicine's ability to identify and enter into future license agreements and collaborations; Prime Medicine's expectations regarding the anticipated timeline of its cash runway and future financial performance; and general economic, industry and market conditions. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in Prime Medicine's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Prime Medicine's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Prime Medicine explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements subject to any obligations under applicable law. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. Investor and Media Contacts Gregory DearbornPrime Medicine857-209-0696gdearborn@ Hannah DeresiewiczPrecision in to access your portfolio
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's CF: Armed factions not behind Kurdistan oil field strikes
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's ruling Shiite alliance, the Coordination Framework (CF), denied on Tuesday any involvement by affiliated armed factions in the recent drone strikes that targeted vital oil fields in the Kurdistan Region. Speaking with Shafaq News, Amer al-Fayez, a senior figure in the CF—the political umbrella representing many armed factions—dismissed the attacks as 'disruptive acts' carried out by forces seeking to destabilize the country and embarrass the Iraqi government, asserting that 'all factions agree Iraq must stay out of regional conflicts.' The armed groups, according to Al-Fayez, had informed both the Framework and the government that they had 'no connection whatsoever' to the strikes, reaffirming their support for national stability. Earlier today, the Kurdistan Region Presidency denounced the assaults on the Khurmala and Sarsangoil fields in Erbil and Duhok, urging Baghdad to act swiftly to stop future aggression. In response, the Iraqi Parliament and government launched an immediate investigation into the incidents, with the Iraqi Presidency describing them as 'terrorist acts.' Kurdish officials have accused elements within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)—a state-sanctioned umbrella of mostly Shiite armed groups—of orchestrating the strikes under the pretext of targeting alleged Israeli intelligence sites. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has consistently rejected those claims as fabrications, asserting that no Israeli presence exists within its territory. Iraq's Military Command, however, rebuffed the accusations, calling them 'baseless' and 'unacceptable,' and challenging the KRG to submit evidence through formal channels.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Hundreds of cystic fibrosis patients become eligible for ‘life-changing' therapy
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has given the green light for the NHS to give patients Alyftrek, a type of modulator therapy which works to tackle the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is caused by a faulty gene that affects the production of a protein called CFTR. Modulator drugs work by helping to make the CFTR protein work effectively. NHS officials said the treatments can 'transform' life expectancy and quality of life for patients. There are a number of modulator therapies available but some patients with the rarest forms of the disease have been unable to access them until now. Nice approved Alyftrek, which is known as a triple therapy, for patients aged six and over for the most common form of CF as an alternative to another treatment called Kaftrio. And NHS England announced that the treatment would also be made available for children and adults with rare forms of cystic fibrosis, who have not previously been eligible for modulator therapy. NHS England said the move allows patients with the rarest form of the disease to access the latest treatments, including Alyftrek and Kaftrio, for the first time. It said that 95% of people with cystic fibrosis in England will now be eligible for modulator therapy. The new drug, also known as vanza triple, has been found to be as effective as current drug Kaftrio in clinical trials in improving and maintaining lung function in people with CF. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the triple combination medicine – which is also known as deutivacaftor/tezacaftor/vanzacaftor – for use in the UK, for certain patients with CF over the age of six, in March. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that causes thick mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system which leads to breathing difficulties and serious infections. John Stewart, NHS England's director for specialised commissioning, said: 'This is a major leap forward for hundreds of patients living with the rarest forms of cystic fibrosis, offering fresh hope of a better quality of life. 'Access to a once-daily treatment at home can make an enormous difference to patients and their families – reducing the burden of hospital appointments and allowing children and young people to live more freely and independently. 'For those living with the rarest forms of the condition, this represents the very first time they will be able to access this new standard of care that has been so transformative for many since 2019. 'The rollout of this life-changing therapy demonstrates how the NHS continues to embrace innovation to deliver significant improvements in care for patients across the country at a fair price for the taxpayer.' Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: 'CFTR modulators are already revolutionising the way cystic fibrosis is treated so we're pleased to be able to recommend Alyftrek, the latest of this type of treatment that has been shown to be effective, with significant benefits for people with the condition.' David Ramsden, chief executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: 'Today's announcements are another positive step in the journey to better treatments for everyone with cystic fibrosis – a lifelong, life-limiting condition without a cure. 'It's thanks to the incredible support and many years of campaigning of the CF community, and the work of all our partners, that modulator drugs are now a treatment option for thousands of people.' Ludovic Fenaux, senior vice president at Vertex International, said the move 'represents a significant milestone in our journey to serially innovate and further improve the lives of people living with this disease'.
