Joana Fernandes, PhD,  —

ZappRx’s new digital platform for prescribing specialty medications, including therapies to treat pulmonary fibrosis, can now be used at two centers with expertise in respiratory conditions —  Arizona Pulmonary Specialists and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The platform was designed to speed up and simplify the complex process required to order…

Samumed’s nebulized inhalation solution SM04646, a candidate therapy to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), was found to be well-tolerated and to cause no serious adverse effects in a Phase 1 trial of healthy individuals in Australia. These results support the launch of future clinical trials to test the drug’s efficacy in IPF patients. According to…

Former New York Yankees baseball player Bernie Williams joined the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) recently as they lobbied members of Congress to raise awareness about the impact idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has on patients and families. “My father passed away from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and I’m eager to raise awareness of the…

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) want more information from their doctors at diagnosis, according to the results of a new survey. Researchers said that only half of patients surveyed report discussing antifibrotic treatment decisions with their doctors when they’re diagnosed. Results of the survey study, titled “Differences in…

Treatment with Galecto Biotech’s inhaled TD139 may become an effective and safe option for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a clinical trial conducted by Scotland’s University of Edinburgh. Galecto, a Danish pharmaceutical firm, will present the study’s findings at the American Thoracic Society 2017 International Conference…

Veracyte will present new information supporting the use of its genomic tests to diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer at the American Thoracic Society 2017 International Conference in Washington, May 19-24. The Envisia and Percepta Bronchial Genomic Classifiers were designed to reduce the need for diagnostic surgery and to…

INOpulse has shown promise in treating patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PH-IPF), concludes a study by Bellerophon Therapeutics, developer of the inhaled nitrous oxide device. The study, “Unraveling the Mode of Action of Pulsed Inhaled NO in Severe IPF Using Functional Respiratory Imaging.” showed that PH-IPF…

Researchers in Finland have identified a protein called AMPK as a possible new target for therapies aimed to treat pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic diseases. Their study, “AMPK Negatively Regulates Tensin-Dependent Integrin Activity,” appeared in The Journal of Cell Biology. In human tissues, the space between adjacent cells, called…

Esbriet (pirfenidone) improved life expectancy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by approximately 2.5 years compared to best supportive care, according to recent research. The study, “Predicting Life Expectancy For Pirfenidone In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,” was published in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy. Esbriet has been…

When patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) get involved in treatment decisions, it is likely to increase the dialogue between them and their doctors, according to a global survey supported by Boehringer Ingelheim. A key survey finding was that two of three IPF patients are involved in treatment decisions.