In order to expand its cystic fibrosis (CF) pipeline beyond CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) modulators, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has partnered with US-based Parion Sciences for the development and commercialisation of Parion’s epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) inhibitors. The collaboration, centered on the Phase II asset P-1037, will complement Vertex’s existing CF franchise, which in July 2015 was strengthened with the US FDA approval of Orkambi™ (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) for CF patients ages 12 years and older with two copies of the F508del mutation. Preclinical data suggest that P-1037 may increase the efficacy of Orkambi.