José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment candidate BBT-877 is safe and well-tolerated in healthy volunteers, and markedly reduced the plasma levels of a lipid molecule involved in inflammation and fibrosis, according to results of a Phase 1 clinical trial. The research, “BBT-877, a potent Autotaxin…

Low levels of an enzyme associated with the rare childhood disorder sialidosis may lead to the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to new research. The findings also suggest that NEU1 enzyme levels may help in determining fibrosis’ risk and likely prognosis. The study “…

The type 2 diabetes medication metformin suppresses the production of collagen, and induces a switch in lung fibroblasts that is associated with quickened recovery from fibrosis, according to a preclinical study. The findings support the use of this medication in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The research,…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow the start of a Phase 2 clinical trial of treatment candidate GKT831 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). GKT831 is an orally available inhibitor of the NOX1 and NOX4 enzymes, and has been explored for the treatment of liver and kidney…

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) oral treatment candidate PLN-74809 can prevent the activation of the pro-fibrotic protein TGF-beta by up to 70% in healthy volunteers, according to final results of a Phase 1b trial. Being developed by Pliant Therapeutics, PLN-74809 is a small molecule and selective inhibitor of the…

An idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment candidate that mimics a tiny RNA molecule lowered the production of key profibrotic proteins and blocked fibrosis development in a mouse model of the disease. The data was presented recently at the 2019 American Thoracic Society (ATS) Conference in Dallas, in a poster titled “…

The medical advisory board of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) strongly cautions patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) not to receive stem cell or cell-based treatments outside an approved clinical trial. The PFF statement is an update to a first version published in 2015. “We understand that patients are…

Novel selective blockers of the NOX4 enzyme could ease oxidative stress and the subsequent development of fibrosis in lungs and other organs, according to scientists at the University of Arizona. The potential treatments have been licensed to a startup called Fibronox to speed up their development. NOX4, or NADPH…

Vitamin D deficiency in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with functional and clinical predictors of disease severity and a higher risk of mortality, according to a new study. The findings also revealed that vitamin D is able to partially prevent lung fibrosis in a mouse model.

A protein called PU.1 plays a central role in the deposition of connective tissue during fibrosis, according to new research. The findings also suggested that blocking PU.1 may be a therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic disorders. The study, “PU.1 controls fibroblast polarization and…