Magdalena Kegel,  —

A motor protein called myosin II was identified in a recent study to be a driver of fibrosis development — a finding with a notable potential to lead to improved treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study by  Cleveland Clinic researchers is titled “Matrix-Driven Myosin II Mediates the Pro-Fibrotic Fibroblast Phenotype,“ and was published in the …

A European survey of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) found that patients well understand the disease’s significant physical and emotional impact on their quality of life, and are frustrated by a perceived lack of quality IPF information and public understanding. The study also underscored the beneficial role of patients’ caregivers and specialist nurses, where available.

A new article that reviews available treatment options for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) took a critical but positive look at available research information for OFEV (nintedanib). The article focuses on the clinical evidence supporting nintedanib as an IPF treatment and on the drug’s pharmacological characteristics. The article, titled “Idiopathic…

Researchers from a large number of international institutions have published an integrated analysis showing that long-term treatment with pirfenidone (Esbriet, Genentech, Roche) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can be considered safe. The study, “Safety of pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: integrated analysis of…

A new study from the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China, reports that the drug fasudil helps to prevent lung fibrosis development in newborn rats exposed to prolonged oxygen treatment by blocking the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway. While high levels of oxygen given to at-risk newborn infants is a life-saving procedure, researchers and clinicians know that prolonged exposure…

A potentially important new study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, identified fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as a crucial factor in collagen fragment clearance in the lungs. Clearing collagen fragments is a key step in reducing tissue scarring and restoring lung function following injury, making FAP an interesting target…