Janet Stewart, MSc,  —

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) has launched its Oxygen Information Line to provide information and resources to help people using supplemental oxygen and their caregivers. Using the line, people can get reliable advice about which oxygen delivery system to use, how to manage flow settings, and how to ensure safety.

Scientists found that a special kind of white blood cell could potentially be stimulated to migrate to the lungs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and help repair fibrosis damage. They showed how this process occurs naturally in mice with lung fibrosis. The study, “TRAIL-Dependent Resolution…

The rate of decline in lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) before they are treated with Genentech‘s Esbriet (pirfenidone) influences the effects of the medication, researchers have found. Patients classified as rapid progressors, who experience accelerated declines in lung function, benefited more from Esbriet…

Boehringer Ingelheim‘s Ofev (nintedanib) preserved the lung function of nine idiopathic  pulmonary fibrosis patients waiting for a lung transplant, a study reported. The research, “Safety of nintedanib before lung transplant: an Italian case series,” appeared in the journal Respirology Case Reports. A lung transplant is…

A lung transplant can benefit those whose pulmonary fibrosis (PF) stems from Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), a study indicate. The study, “Clinical management and outcomes of patients with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome pulmonary fibrosis evaluated for lung transplantation,” was published in the journal PLOS One. HPS is a rare…

PMD Healthcare is creating advisory boards composed of pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis patients and caregivers. The company, whose services include remote monitoring of patients’ health conditions, is in the midst of recruiting members of both boards. PMD said the purpose of the boards is to gather information and opinions directly…

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation plans to expand its U.S. Care Center Network from the existing 45 facilities, which provide diagnosis and treatment. The network started with nine sites when it was launched in 2013. The foundation wants to see enough centers so 90 percent of patients in urban areas…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug status to Prometic Life Sciences’ Ryplazim (plasminogen) as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Fewer than 200,000 Americans have IPF, which makes it eligible for orphan status. The designation gives companies incentives to develop drugs for the small markets typical…

The American Thoracic Society and Boehringer Ingelheim have established a two-year, $100,000 fellowship for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis research. Pulmonary fibrosis is a group of lung diseases characterized by cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and low levels of oxygen in the blood. It involves the lungs becoming stiff and holding less air…

Boehringer Ingelheim has extended its collaboration with Inventiva on developing treatments for tissue-scarring conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. The company exercised an option to continue the partnership, which began in 2016. A joint research team has identified a target for a fibrosis therapy, and preliminary results indicate…