Author Archives: Margarida Azevedo, MSc

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with a substantial economic burden in the United States, especially for patients who require hospitalization, intensive care, or a lung transplant, a study based on registry data reported. Annual average costs for 3.9 days in a hospital by patients in this study was…

Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), including pulmonary fibrosis (PF), have an increased risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack, compared to those without these lung conditions, a recent study suggests. Clinicians should take these findings into account, and screen patients with ILDs, especially those 60–69 years…

Hepion Pharmaceuticals‘ CRV431 has a similar, or even greater effect in reducing markers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in lung tissue, compared with standard-of-care IPF treatment, the company reported. The therapy had positive results in lung tissue from an IPF patient, according to Hepion. CRV431 is a…

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Delaware received funding for their research into innovative therapies for specific disease areas, including pulmonary fibrosis (PF). CSL Behring and the University City Science Center awarded $250,000 each to Cecelia Yates, PhD, from the University…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Paragonix Technologies’ request that LUNGguard, its preservation system for transporting donor lungs, for commercial use. The request came as a premarket notification — also known as a 510(k) — which is an application to the FDA showing that…

Veracyte, Inc., presented new data indicating that its in-development genomic test, the Envisia classifier, has the potential to diagnosis idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), distinguishing it from other interstitial lung diseases (ILD), and reduce the need for invasive diagnostic surgeries. The findings were presented by Dr. Giulia C. Kennedy, the company’s chief scientific officer,…

Veracyte, Inc., recently announced that data from multiple studies supporting the ability of its diagnostic tests to help detect pulmonary disease, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), will be presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2016 International Conference taking place in San Francisco. Veracyte will discuss findings from a total of eight studies, two…

ProterixBio, Inc., is the new name for the company previously known as BioScale, Inc., reflecting a change in strategy. Whereas BioScale had focused on care management solutions for pulmonary and other diseases, ProterixBio will specialize in high-value clinical applications, such as diagnostic products and disease management services, with a…

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, and other institutions applied an integrative genomic approach to study chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to uncover the possible shared biological mechanisms in the two disorders. Findings suggested a common genetic network to the…

FibroGen, Inc., recently disclosed potentially groundbreaking results from a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of the company’s investigational drug FG-3019 in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Data indicated that the monoclonal antibody agent was able to reduce lung fibrosis in a portion of the IPF patients enrolled, to…