July 1 (Reuters) - Vertex said on Tuesday that

its next-generation drug gained European Commission approval for

treating cystic fibrosis, a rare and progressive genetic

disease.

The approval expands the company's presence in this

market as it combats weak sales of its older cystic fibrosis

drug Trikafta.

The new once-daily triple combination therapy, branded

Alyftrek, was approved to treat patients aged 6 years and older

who have at least one F508del mutation or another mutation in

the CFTR gene that responds to the therapy.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder resulting from the

absence of a specific protein, which disrupts salt and water

movement in and out of cells in various organs.