Serotonin — a chemical produced by nerve cells — aggravated pulmonary fibrosis by promoting inflammation, oxidative stress (an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses), and activating fibrosis-associated genes in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis, a new study shows. The study, “Serotonin Exhibits Accelerated…
Two molecules secreted by epithelial cells of the lungs — CST3 and GDF15 — “are bona fide regulators” of scarring processes and may point to a new way to treat pulmonary fibrosis, an early study reports. The study, “Epithelial cell-derived cytokines CST3 and GDF15 as potential therapeutics…
Transplantation of stem cells derived from adipose (fat) tissue in an animal model of silica dust-induced pulmonary fibrosis led to remission of the disease, as well as a reduction in inflammation and cell death, a new study shows. The study reporting the findings, “Transplantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal…
A chemical found in certain types of vegetables displayed anti-tissue scarring activity in laboratory and mice lung-tissue experiments, a study reports. The results suggested that the chemical, sulforaphane, could be used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, researchers said. An article about the study, “Sulforaphane attenuates…
PBI-4050, Prometic Life Sciences’ lead therapy candidate, works through a dual mechanism to target a newly discovered pathway, involving the receptors GPR40 and GPR84, that is critical to fibrosis development, a study shows. The study, “A Newly Discovered Antifibrotic Pathway Regulated by Two Fatty Acid Receptors:…
Synairgen announced the revision in the terms of its collaboration with Pharmaxis to advance the development of its Lysyl Oxidase type 2 (LOXL2) program for the treatment of fibrotic conditions, including pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Fibrosis develops due to abnormal wound healing, and is characterized by a buildup of scar…
Doctors may be able to use six energy-storing substances known as lipids to diagnose and track the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a Chinese study reports. The research, “Identification of the lipid biomarkers from plasma in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by Lipidomics,” appeared in the journal BMC Pulmonary…
Researchers have identified a variation of the AKAP13 gene that they say increases people’s susceptibility to developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. An article about their discovery, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, is titled “Genetic variants associated with susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in people of European ancestry: a genome-wide association study.” Previous…
Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), a clinical-stage biopharma focused on developing novel therapeutics for blood-based disorders, is discontinuing its GBT440 program for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The decision came after GBT evaluated the results from three studies, including one Phase 1 study and two Phase 2a…
A combination of Ofev (nintedanib) and Esbriet (pirfenidone) is as safe a therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as the individual components alone, a Phase 4 clinical trial indicates. Preliminary trial findings also suggested that the combination might be more effective than either therapy alone, although researchers said this needs to…
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