Author: Emily Lyons

Why We Should Buy From Brands That Give Back

Because there are so many brands, so much stuff, so many things in our consumerist culture, it means that most things we buy lose their value so easily once a new thing is acquired. An endless loop of consuming and throwing away that is pretty wasteful. We each have a responsibility to the planet to curb our consumption and live moderately but when you do make purchases, buying from companies that support a cause is a conscious and meaningful way to shop.

For instance, if you buy one of our JWLS watches or pieces of jewellery, say, for a friend you can tell them that the proceeds of these beautiful objects support families dealing with cystic fibrosis, and your friend can check out more of our story online. It’s a double gift! It’s guaranteed you’ll both feel better about buying and owning this piece of jewellery, knowing that your purchase is also helping people in need. It means what you just bought is not just an object but an object of heart-centred significance.

Here are some other brands we like who are making consumerism more conscious by giving back in innovative ways:

AZURA BAY is a very lovely, tasteful, ethical underwear and swimwear store. They are body-positive, inclusive, and a portion of all their proceeds go to help restore and protect our environment and wildlife and support health and human rights programs for women and girls around the world.

STATE BAGS is an incredible company that began from seeing a charitable need. This husband and wife duo ran a not for profit summer camp for innercity kids from low-income families and noticed a distressing trend of many of the kids ‘backpacks’ being ripped up garbage bags. So they founded STATE. Backed by the likes of Beyoncé and Obama, these people donate a fully stocked backpack to a kid in need for every STATE bag purchased. And they do much, much more – check out their inspiring story and mission.

CUYANA is an elegant womenswear line with a focus on ethical consumption and the less is more philosophy. From their site, they write that they have partnered with thredUP to expand their Lean Closet program. Complimentary Cuyana x thredUP shipping labels will be included with every domestic online order from cuyana.com, and available in stores. Use your label to pare down your closet to fewer, better pieces and help benefit women through H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Ease Abuse Related Trauma).

WILDFANG is a female-founded, female-run, badass clothing store that believes women should be able to wear whatever the hell they want and be whoever the hell they want. In 2018 alone they donated 400k of their proceeds to charities that support reproductive, immigrant and female/human rights. Plus, their clothes are the bomb!

So next time you’re thinking of buying a gift for someone else or for yourself, please look into and spread the word about companies like ours who use sale proceeds to help others in need. Why not?

4 Tips for Mastering the Art of Meaningful Gift-Giving

Meaningful Gift-Giving. If you’re like a lot of people, then you’ve probably received gifts that made you smile and feel warm inside – and gifts that made you wince. In all likelihood, gifts that put a smile on your face tend to be personally meaningful – that is, they strike a chord with you because they make you feel understood on a level that’s beyond the superficial. On the other hand, gifts in the wince-causing category miss the mark because they’re cliche and impersonal and – in a certain sense – fairly meaningless to you.

With all this in mind, we think it’s safe to assume that most people would like to master the art of meaningful gift-giving. So how, exactly, can you perfect that art for yourself? While there’s a lot of advice out there on meaningful gift-giving, here are a few of the best tips and approaches we’ve encountered.

• Explore their hobbies and interests. An age-old gift-giving approach is to first discover and learn more about the gift-recipient’s hobbies or interests. That doesn’t mean you have to go all out and learn everything there is to know about that hobby or interest, but becoming familiar with the overall hobby is a good start if you want to pick out a gift that’s personally meaningful.

• Watch for hints of what they like. One clever-and-endearing way you can choose a meaningful gift? Go out shopping at least occasionally with the person you want to give a gift to – and observe what sort of things they seem to like. For example, where do their eyes linger when scanning through a store shelf? To what do they seem to give extra attention to – even if they don’t verbally signal interest in something?

• Gift them something they lost. Has the recipient of your gift lost something recently? If so, simply gifting them an item similar (or even better) than the one they lost can make the recipient feel special and cared about.

• Creatively combine their desires and values in a single gift. A very reliable – and effective – way to find a gift-with-meaning for someone is this 2-step approach: first, figure out several things that the recipient values or desires, then pick a gift that creatively combines some of those values or desires. Suppose, for instance, that the gift recipient enjoys fashionable wrist jewelry and accessories. They also tend to donate to charities and organisations that help people struggling with incurable diseases. You could combine this desire and value in a single gift – like a JWLS watch, for example (stylish timepieces that help support those with cystic fibrosis).

The Story Behind The Julia Lyons Foundation

In early August of this year – 2018 – The Julia Lyons Foundation was launched. For many years before, however, Emily Lyons has dreamed of creating this foundation. To understand why, you need to hear the story of another Lyons – Julia Marlane Lyons.

Julia Marlane Lyons – who passed away in 2011 as a result of cystic fibrosis complications – was Emily’s beloved older sister.

Julia was only 27 when she passed away, but Emily is grateful for all the time she got to spend with her: “That’s more than two decades of memories with the best sister a girl could ever ask for,” Emily said in a feature for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Born in 1983, Julia was just an infant – only 4 months old – when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Given this diagnosis at such a young age, no one could have known what to expect from this precious little girl – but then again, Julia always had a tendency to surpass expectations with the force of her unflinching spirit.

Emily remembers so much about Julia: her mischievous humor, her fierce intelligence, her kindness and empathy – and her incredible drive to understand everything about the disease she had been born with.

Julia would go on to receive two double lung transplants – costly, demanding procedures which bought her a little more time. But, ultimately, that terrible day came: her lung complications mounted, and she passed away on the first day of June, in 2011.

Julia left an indelible imprint in the hearts and minds of many – including her sister, Emily, who sees Julia as her greatest source of inspiration and motivation.

And for years, Emily privately vowed to herself that she’d do what she could to tackle CF – and help those burdened with the disease. So now, with the launch of The Julia Lyons Foundation – created in the memory of “the best sister a girl could ever ask for” – Emily is bringing that personal pledge to life.

Our Mission

The Julia Lyons Foundation is driven by this mission: to lessen the hardships of people with CF, to lift up the CF community, and to proactively fight back against this disease – so that one day, no more tears will be shed over the devastating losses it inflicts.

Cystic Fibrosis Explained

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a very deadly inherited disease – the most fatal genetic condition among children in Canada. A cure for CF does not yet exist.

The disease is caused by defects in a very important gene. These defects cause the body to produce mucus that’s much too thick – which clogs up the lungs and airways. Breathing is thus very difficult for people with CF – who are also at an increased risk of infection from bacteria.

But CF doesn’t just affect the lungs. It also harms the digestive system: individuals with CF often have a hard time absorbing vital nutrients – like fats, protein, and many vitamins.

Lung problems account for most deaths related to cystic fibrosis. And while lung transplants can improve the quality of life of those with CF, this is no cure: eventually, the new lungs can become severely damaged by thick mucus, lack of oxygen, and infection.

Current medical intervention for cystic fibrosis relies on symptom management through a regimen of medication, physical therapy, and surgery.

What We Do

How is The Julia Lyons Foundation accomplishing its mission?

The Julia Lyons Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation – provides financial aid directly to those in the CF community who need it most. Cystic fibrosis is a very costly disease: continuous medical treatment and monitoring is required, and lung transplants are very expensive procedures. Also, individuals with CF must often move to an entirely different city so they can be close to a hospital with the right treatment resources. All of this adds up – and can place extreme hardships on both the person with CF and their family.

We at the Julia Lyons Foundation believe that everyone with CF deserves excellent care, treatment, and aid – even those who do not have very many financial resources. Cystic fibrosis is a harrowing, lifelong battle to begin with – so it’s imperative that those with CF get all the support they need, whether financial or otherwise. The Julia Lyons Foundation makes this possible by working closely with the CF community to find those who are most in need of support.

DID YOU KNOW? CF is particularly lethal for those who come from low-income households. In fact, some studies report that there is a 44% increase in the risk of death for this population of CF patients.

The Julia Lyons Foundation is creating a much-needed mental health program for people with CF (and their caregivers). Emily can never forget how Julia had to contend not just with the physical symptoms of CF, but also with agonizing anxiety and depression – one hardship on top of another. It is well known within the CF community that this disease is very often accompanied by mental health challenges. Nevertheless, few mental health resources exist for people with CF – a glaring problem that The Julia Lyons Foundation is now addressing.

This mental health program is designed to provide therapists, mental health treatment approaches, and resources that are specifically tailored to individuals with CF – at no cost. This will help improve the quality of life of many people with CF. We think that if you have CF, you deserve all the social support, care, understanding, and friendship that you could ever want – and this program backs up that conviction with on-the-ground action.

DID YOU KNOW? Psychological distress can have a very real impact on the physical health of people with CF. Studies have shown, for example, that anxiety and depression in CF patients can result in worsened lung function. So anxiety and depression not only reduces quality of life, but can also heighten the risk of death. Further, the suicide rate among individuals with CF is greater than that of the general population – one tragic consequence of the inadequate mental health resources available to the CF community.

How You Can Help

Throughout their lives, people with CF encounter many adversities.

But they shouldn’t have to confront these challenges alone – without anyone’s help.

And – in big and small ways – most of us can do something to support and empower the CF community.

One way you can do this is by making a donation to The Julia Lyons Foundation.

Donate today and you’ll help make an incredible difference for individuals and families across Canada who are battling cystic fibrosis. We are grateful for your support of The Julia Lyons Foundation and everyone who’s taking cystic fibrosis head-on.

On behalf of all of us at The Julia Lyons Foundation, thank you.

DID YOU KNOW? There are many other ways you can show your support for the CF community. For example, register as an organ donor (if you haven’t done so already). That might sound like just a small thing you can do, but it’s actually an incredibly important – and life-saving – action.

Connect with The Julia Lyons Foundation

Phone: 647 955 9733
Email:info@jwlsofficial.com

Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/julialyonsfoundation/

Follow Us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/julia-lyons-foundation/

The Story Behind JWLS

Watches that make you look extra-dapper and super-fine? That’s JWLS for you. But that’s not all there is to JWLS.

In fact, it is the story behind JWLS that really sets these watches apart.

JWLS was founded in 2017 by Emily Lyons – a Toronto-based entrepreneur and rising star in the business space (she’s been featured in publications like Forbes and Maxim, to name a few, and her clients include Fortune 500 firms and A-list celebrities).

Lyons created the company because she wanted to do something about cystic fibrosis – a deadly genetic disease that had claimed the life of her sister, Julia Marlane Lyons, in 2011. Julia – who was affectionately nicknamed “Jewels” by her family and friends – was only 27 when she passed away. This loss stung Emily into action, and she vowed to use her business resources to fight back against cystic fibrosis.

Julia and Emily Lyons

And thus she launched JWLS – named in the memory of Julia. Emily is convinced that cystic fibrosis can be vanquished – it is simply a matter of sufficient funding and the right allocation of resources. So JWLS is this entrepreneur’s solution to the cystic fibrosis problem: 100% of all JWLS’ profits are donated directly to Cystic Fibrosis Canada and other not-for-profit organizations involved in researching and combating the disease. These funds will bolster research efforts and help clear a path towards a cure that works.

“Every day I think about how short life is,” Emily remarked in an interview with Forbes, reflecting on the loss of her sister and the battle with cystic fibrosis.

Every watch in the JWLS collection is named after something connected with Julia’s life and memory. And every watch face is engraved with the JWLS logo – a pair of lungs that symbolizes the life-giving power of air and breath, which many of us take for granted.

JWLS is a tribute to the life and legacy of Julia – who will forever remain close to the hearts and minds of the many people who knew and loved her.

And your JWLS watch? It’s a sign of your willingness to stand up to cystic fibrosis and support those who must face the disease head-on every day.

What does your purchase do?

 Your purchase of a JWLS watch helps fund research on cystic fibrosis – including ongoing efforts to create an effective cure for the disease. Some of the funds are given to Cystic Fibrosis Canada, a not-for-profit devoted to finding a cure. Funds from JWLS watch sales are also donated directly to those with cystic fibrosis who don’t have the financial resources to get adequate medical treatment.

Cystic fibrosis can be particularly devastating for individuals and families who don’t have access to large amounts of capital. It is an expensive disease. For example, CF patients must often re-locate so that they live near a treatment centre where they can be monitored and cared for by medical professionals. Costs like these can put tremendous strain on both the individual with CF and their family.

Emily knows this all too well; when her sister Julia was staying at a hospital in a city far from home, the family would often stay at a Ronald McDonald House to visit her and ensure that she was receiving the best possible care (and the physical presence of loved ones can go far towards alleviating the suffering of those with CF).  

So your purchase, in a very real way, helps lift up the CF community – bolstering research efforts and supporting those who are in desperate need of financial assistance.

That’s why you can wear a JWLS watch with pride. You’ll be making a real impact in people’s lives – so you’ll be wearing a timepiece with a purpose.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic disease that affects the body’s lungs and airways – among other areas.

Healthy people have a slippery, thin mucus lining that covers their airways (airways are the hollow passages in your body that allow air to go in and out of the lungs whenever you breathe). The mucus in the airways is always moving and getting replaced by new mucus. Mucus can easily move because it’s slippery and light – so that there’s always a fresh lining of it in your airways. This mucus keeps your airways moist – so they don’t dry out from all the air flowing through them. It also captures bacteria and other harmful particles that might be in the air.

But if you have CF, this mucus lining is much thicker and much less slippery because of a genetic mutation. Since this thick mucus can’t move very easily and get replaced by a fresh lining, more and more mucus accumulates in the airways. Over time, bacteria grow in this buildup of mucus – and can cause severe lung infections. What’s more, the airways become blocked up with too much mucus – making breathing difficult. Ultimately, if lungs become too damaged from infection, they will have to be replaced through a transplant operation. But even with lung transplants, many people still die from the disease – usually due to respiratory failure.

There is currently no cure for the disease – only treatment options to temporarily minimize symptoms. Today, there are thousands of Canadians – both children and adults – who are struggling with this relentless disease.

What can you do to help the CF community?

What else can you do to help the CF community? Here are some ideas:

• Learn about CF. Knowledge is power, and the more you learn about the disease, the more you’ll understand what those with CF are going through – and how you can help them in a meaningful way.
• Follow the social media accounts of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Julia Lyons Foundation, and JWLS – and other organizations concerned with cystic fibrosis. This will help keep you updated on what’s happening in the CF community – and where your help may be most needed.
• Fundraise. You can fundraise by going on walks that are often hosted by organizations like Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
• Generate awareness – share social media pics, stories, more with your network. This will bring more awareness to the disease and help encourage more research on finding a cure.

“A Big Heart and Even Bigger Dreams”: Natalie Daoust Needs Double Lungs, So JWLS is Making This Announcement

Bonfield, Ontario, has a population that hovers just around 2,000 people.

It’s also home to Natalie Daoust – a young woman with “a big heart and even bigger dreams.”

Like many people her age – she’s 23 at the moment – Natalie has diverse and eclectic interests. She wants to travel, for example – maybe somewhere in Europe.

Unlike most people her age, however, Natalie is in dire need of a double lung transplant.

Why?

Because of cystic fibrosis, Natalie’s lungs – and health – are in crisis.

Right now, her lungs are just barely functional – working at less than 18% capacity for someone her age. And since breathing is so difficult, Natalie has had to forgo things like marriage and having children, traveling and shopping with her friends.

While many 20-somethings around her are checking off their mental bucket lists – graduating college, moving up in their careers, and so on – Natalie doesn’t have these kind of options. Instead, cystic fibrosis has forced her on to a regimen of medication and little sleep (she’s usually able to sleep only at about 3 AM in the morning).  

In fact, because of the condition of her lungs, Natalie can’t even participate in vigorous sports activities. Imagine trying to work out if you can barely breathe – it’d be practically impossible. So to get any exercise at all, she must be accompanied by her oxygen tank.

Right now, Natalie is on the waiting list for a double lung transplant (she may also need a liver transplant).

But the cost of this intricate – but life-saving – operation is prohibitive: Natalie needs $60,000.

And if she doesn’t get the double lung transplant?

Natalie puts it this way:

“If I don’t get a transplant, I probably don’t have two years.”

In addition to the double lung transplant, Natalie will also have to move closer to Toronto – putting her nearer to the treatment centres there.

To help this young woman out, Emily Lyons – CEO of JWLS – has decided that for the next 2 months, the profits earned from all JWLS sales will go to Natalie for her double lung transplant.

Natalie has already set up a GoFundMe campaign (you’ll find it here; the campaign has currently reached about $5,000 of its $60,000 goal), but it is hoped that this JWLS initiative will be of further help to Natalie.

So if you’ve been interested in purchasing a new timepiece, now’s the perfect moment to get a JWLS watch. Remember to get your JWLS watch soon – because that way you’ll be contributing to Natalie’s efforts to fight back against cystic fibrosis and receive a double lung transplant.

And if you’re not inclined to purchase any watches right now (or in the near future), then consider making a donation to Natalie’s GoFundMe.

5 of the Worst Fashion Suggestions for Men Ever Heard

“Clothes make the man.”

That’s according to the legendary American author, Mark Twain, at least.

And honestly?

He’s right.

In many ways, a man’s fashion look defines him – certainly in the eyes of society, at least.

Whether you’re Justin Bieber or Tupac, Ted Mosby or Steve Jobs or James Bond – fashion imparts meaning to the man.

There’s no going around it: the watch your wear, the shoes you step into, the shirt you button yourself into – they all send a message to the people around you.  

Which is why bad fashion advice can be particularly disastrous – especially on the social front.

Chances are, you’ve heard some pretty questionable fashion advice yourself – handed down to you by well-meaning friends or co-workers, perhaps.

Or maybe you encountered such dubious style suggestions from the internet.

We at JWLS have stumbled upon some of the bad fashion advice on the internet – and wanted to share some of it with you (source: reddit.com).

So, prepare to get your cringe on as you read some of the worst men’s fashion advice ever heard.

“There was a guy who said his friends told him he looked good wearing a red polo tee with a black tie.”

Just…no. Where do we even begin with this one? This fashion un-advice makes us think that this guy’s friends might have been pulling a fast one on him just for laughs. Whatever the case might be, let’s just say that a polo tee and a tie isn’t a dashingly-good look. (You know what does go well with a black tie? A fine-fitting suit paired with a stylish watch.)

“As long as your shirt matches your shoes, nothing else matters.”

Actually, there’s a lot more that matters fashion-wise than simply matching your shirt with your shoes. Such one-dimensional fashion suggestions are quickly discarded by well-dressed gentlemen.

“Tuck in your t-shirt – untucked t-shirts are for slobs.”

Let’s see. A tucked in t-shirt is a look that some guys can pull off, but it’s not for everyone – and untucked t-shirts are definitely not the sign of a slob. Lots of fashionable dudes walk around with untucked t-shirts – without inducing a wave of cringey feelings in passerbys.

“Your socks should match your shoes and your belt.”

No, they shouldn’t. That’s all we have to say to that one.

“Socks with sandals can work. You’re missing out!”

Reality: 9/10 times socks-and-sandals are a look worthy only for the Fashion Hall of Infamy (if there was such a place, that is).

These are all, obviously, pretty eyebrow-raising fashion suggestions.

Right?

Now, if you want to do something that’ll raise not your eyebrows but your fashion game, take a look at the men’s watches in the JWLS 2018 collection.

Did You Know: When it Comes to Mortality Rate, There’s a Cystic Fibrosis “Gender Gap”

Did you know:

There’s a gender gap when it comes to cystic fibrosis mortality rates?

It’s something that’s been known for quite some time – practically ever since hospitals began recording mortalities resulting from cystic fibrosis complications.

In short, a “gender gap” here means that girls and women with cystic fibrosis have a greater risk of death than males do.

For example, a 1997 report concluded that, between the ages of 1 and 20, females with cystic fibrosis were 60% more likely to die than their male counterparts. A study published two years later noted that the median age of survival for males with cystic fibrosis was 4 years higher than that for women.

So based on studies like these (and others), it’s pretty clear that there is a “gender gap” when it comes to cystic fibrosis mortality – and a significant one at that.

Medical researchers have long puzzled over this enigmatic gender gap. What, after all, could be responsible for the higher mortality rate among women with cystic fibrosis?

As it turns out, several hypotheses have been advanced to explain this mysterious phenomenon. Some have suggested that this gender gap is the result of behavioral differences between women and men (caused by the still-rigid gender roles of Western society).

For instance, the authors pointed out that a simple act like spitting after intense sports activity is considered “masculine” and not at all feminine; thus, even after vigorous exercise, women are far less likely to spit on the ground than men are. Yet, for people with cystic fibrosis, spitting is often an essential way to help regulate the flow of mucus in the body. Thus, women with cystic fibrosis can be harmed by gender roles that tell them that a simple act like spitting is “gross” or “unwomanly.”

That might explain the gender gap.

But not so fast, say other researchers, because there are other possible explanations – perhaps a gender bias exists in the medical system, such that girls are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a later age than boys are. This was the idea put forward by a paper published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. In that study, the authors discovered that there was a delayed age of diagnosis for girls with cystic fibrosis.

Then there’s the hypothesis that the hormone estrogen – a major hormone of the female body – is related in some way to this nefarious gender gap.   

Of course, this all goes to show that – at this point – researchers aren’t totally sure what’s behind the gender gap in cystic fibrosis mortality rates. In fact, it’s possible that it’s caused by a number of factors – perhaps all of the ones mentioned here play some kind of role.

The good news is that the cystic fibrosis gender gap is not invincible – forever unable to be closed: a 2005 study, taking place in a London hospital, found that when medical practices at the clinic were standardized across the board – for both girls and boys – the gender gap was no longer detectable.

And whether or not the gender gap is getting smaller as we head into the third decade of the 21st century, one thing is for certain: there is a need for a cure for cystic fibrosis, so lives won’t continue to be lost to this devastating disease. To support the search for a cure – and look chic in the process – have a look at JWLS’ elegant, edgy line of watches. 

Explaining the “Quartz Movement” Watch Preference

Take a look around the JWLS online shop and you might notice this: all JWLS watches are powered by Japanese quartz movements.

That could, naturally, spark a question such as this: why do some watch connoisseurs prefer quartz movements, while others are much more enthusiastic about watches with automatic movements (also known as mechanical watches)?

For many watch-lovers, quartz watches are seen as possessing one particular advantage over mechanical watches: quartz watches, because they keep time through a battery (which, fascinatingly, electrifies a tiny crystal of quartz), are much more reliable time-keepers than automatics. The quartz crystal vibrates at a consistent frequency anywhere in the world, and this fact was used by watch engineers to devise remarkably accurate timepieces.

Automatic watches – which have a history spanning over 300 years – are built to track time by the intricate movements of precise, miniature mechanical parts (coupled to springs) which get their power from the natural, daily motions of the wearer.

And because automatic watches are mechanical – not battery powered – they have far, far more parts than a quartz watch. If you placed both a quartz watch and an automatic under an X-ray machine – getting a look inside these watches – you’d see just how enormously complex an automatic is compared to a quartz watch. Indeed, the automatic would look quite like a microscopic factory, with gears spinning and whirring; the quartz watch, on the other hand, would look dramatically simpler in design.

Since quartzes don’t have nearly as many moving parts as automatics, they can reliably keep time – even in rough, less-than-friendly conditions (whether that’s skydiving or mountain biking or some other adrenaline-spiked activity). Watches with quartz movements are well-known for their extreme time-telling precision.

Meanwhile, because of their intricate inner architecture, automatic watches generally require servicing every four years or so; in addition, the day, date, and time must be reset whenever the watch exhausts its power.

So which type of watch should you get? A rigorously accurate quartz movement, or an automatic?

Ultimately, the answer to that question all boils down to the main reason why you’re investing in a watch: as a “testament to an artform,” as someone said about automatics, or because you want “to always know the exact time regardless of sleet, deep water, or a 30 foot fall,” as a quartz movement enthusiast said.

Of course, if you’re in the mood for an elegant watch with a quartz movement, then JWLS may have a stylish timepiece that exactly suits your taste.

A Year in Review, and the Search for a Cure: Cystic Fibrosis Research Highlights from 2017

The life expectancy of those with cystic fibrosis has been on an upwards swing for quite some time now, thanks largely to medical advances in diagnostic and treatment capabilities. However, the search for a cure is still very much an urgent necessity, as cystic fibrosis continues to claim beautiful lives and shatter families.

In light of this, it makes sense to keep an eye on ongoing research towards a cure for this deadly genetic disease. So here you’ll read about research on cystic fibrosis that was rolled out last year, in 2017. What follows is a brief summary of two 2017 studies on potential cures for cystic fibrosis.

Study #1, January 2017 – “Can Cystic Fibrosis Patients Finally Catch a Breath With Orkambi?”

This study took a good look at the Orkambi treatment protocol – which consists of a drug combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor. In principle, at least, these drugs are able to correct many of the molecular causes of cystic fibrosis (read this for a friendly guide to the biology of cystic fibrosis).

Since cystic fibrosis is fundamentally caused by a malfunctioning protein – the CFTR protein – both lumacaftor and ivacaftor act on the protein in distinct ways to improve its function (such that this protein behaves in the way it does in healthy human cells). This drug combo is dubbed the Orkambi protocol, and requires a daily oral dose of lumacaftor and ivacaftor every 12 hours.

The study referenced above reviewed all available clinical data on the Orkambi protocol, and concluded that – at present – this is not much of a cure for cystic fibrosis, but more of a strategy for managing symptoms. As the study noted, “Orkambi therapy displayed only modest improvements in lung function and pulmonary exacerbations.”

Furthermore, the cost of this therapy is quite prohibitive – around $259,000 USD per year.

Nonetheless, this study ended on an upbeat tone, with the conclusion that “…the long-term benefits of Orkambi require further assessment and we are all curiously awaiting the results of long-term…studies for these two revolutionary CF drugs.”

Study #2: June 2017 – “Correcting CFTR folding defects by small-molecule correctors to cure cystic fibrosis”

Released in the summer of last year, this report began with the following premise: since cystic fibrosis is often caused by a damaged, misshapen CFTR protein – how can we correct the shape of this protein, such that it functions correctly? (Just like a few mismatching gears can destroy the functionality of a watch, a few badly-shaped proteins – like CFTR – can wreak havoc on the human body.)

The report went on to answer that question it posed by reviewing current research drugs that could “fix” the badly-shaped CFTR protein in individuals with cystic fibrosis. For example, it noted that two therapeutic research medicines – Cavosonstat and Riociguat – have shown promise in correcting the function of damaged CFTR proteins.

However, this review of available research medicines showed that none of them individually are able to completely correct the badly-shaped CFTR proteins; hence the need for combination drug protocols (like Orkambi, mentioned above).

The study wrapped up with the following note: “The near future will see a number of these drug combinations approved for CF, with the expectation that significant rescue, close to a cure for CF, will be obtained.”

As you can see, there’s still much research that must be done to finally cure cystic fibrosis. This research requires funding, which is why JWLS donates a portion of all profits to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. To shop JWLS watches and help the fight against cystic fibrosis, go here.

(For other ways you can support research on cystic fibrosis, read this.)