I find this extremely important.  I received this email (see below) and excuse me for just copy and pasting, but the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and myself, and others with CF, need your help.

Personally, I am waiting with baited breath for this treatment to hit the market.  Inhaled Aztreonam, AZLI, was expected to be available this past September.  My doc already had plans to put me on it. Due to some changes of FDA board members, this drug is now having to be restudied which means it probably will not hit the market for another two years… a wait too long for some of us.  We are asking for your help in supporting the reconsideration of the application already submitted to the FDA in approving this drug.

I have not yet used AZLI… yet.  But Aztreonam is one of the most effective IV antibiotics I use. Having this drug available in inhaled form could add years to my life.  I have cultured Pseudomonas Aeruginosa for many years (and sometimes many straigns of it).  Having this drug gives me one more weapon against this very harmful bug.

Pseudomonas not only causes horrid infections, it also causes severe irreversible lung damage.  Aztreonam is used as common practice in fighting PA, but right now it is only available via IV.  Having this drug applied directly to the problem, via inhalation, would only make the fight against PA easier and more successful.

Since Aztreonam is only currently available via IV, I only receive it when I am really sick. This inhaled version would be dosed three times a day, 28 days on, 28 days off.  Which basically means I would be fighting my PA with Aztreonam every other month rather than the once to four times per year when I do IVs.  Couple that with the Tobi, inhaled Tobramycin, which I would do on the off months and I would be continuously fighting this evil PA.  I bet that my frequency of hospitalizations would go down given the extra boost I would get from the drug.  Oh my! What life would be like?!!!

Please consider writing the FDA in support of this new drug.
Read additional information about AZLI and the importance of the drug for treating CF.

Cystic Fibrosis

Dear Advocate, Have you or someone you know had a personal experience using Aztreonam Lysine for Inhalation (AZLI)? AZLI is a promising new inhaled antibiotic treatment that appears to help combat the pulmonary symptoms of cystic fibrosis. By sharing your experience using AZLI, you can help the Foundation as it works with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to move this new therapy forward. To help, simply: Read our sample letter Write about what AZLI has done for you E-mail your letter to publicpolicy@cff.org by November 28, 2008. Read additional information about AZLI and the importance of the drug for treating CF. Thank you for helping us work with the FDA to advance vital new treatments for cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 6931 Arlington Road Bethesda, MD 20814 (800) FIGHT CF E-mail: publicpolicy@cff.org Web: www.cff.org/GetInvolved/Advocate P.S. Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested in sharing their story about using ALZI.

————————- The CF Foundation is a donor-supported, nonprofit organization committed to controlling and curing cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease, and to improving the quality of life for those with CF. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.cff.org. and subscribe to receive information by e-mail.

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P.S.  Thank you.  ~salty.