The Battle to Breathe
Follow the relentless quest that led to a breakthrough treatment for a deadly disease.
Witness an extraordinary medical revolution in the battle against cystic fibrosis, the most common fatal genetic disease in the U.S. Once a death sentence, CF saw life expectancies barely reach childhood. But in 2019 an apparent miracle treatment—Trikafta, a potent combination of three drugs—changed everything. People once bedridden and gasping for breath found themselves running marathons. Follow the decades-long scientific quest, fueled by desperate parents, that led to this breakthrough. Experience stories of joy, struggle, and unwavering hope as families confront a disease still marked by profound inequities in diagnosis and treatment. And ponder the implications for the future, as researchers explore whether a new age of “personalized” medicine has finally arrived. (Premiering September 16 at 9 pm on PBS)
