Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

The molecular clockwork that regulates circadian rhythms can become dysregulated in the lungs of people with pulmonary fibrosis, promoting processes that scar lung tissue, a study suggests. Poor sleeping habits also appear to upset the lungs’ circadian clockwork, with people who regularly sleep few or excessive hours being more likely…

The Canadian Registry for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CARE-PF) enrolled in its first 18 months more than 1,200 people with interstitial lung disease (ILD), with more than half having either idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). Data collected through the CARE-PF registry could be useful…

Delays in diagnosis and difficulty getting timely access to appropriate specialist care and treatment were highlighted as major gaps in care in a recent survey of people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and their healthcare providers. The survey results were discussed in the journal ERJ Open Research in a study,…

Ofev (nintedanib) slows the rate of decline in lung function in people with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) associated with autoimmune diseases, a new analysis of data from a Phase 3 clinical trial suggests. Ofev is an anti-fibrotic therapy — a medication that lessens tissue scarring — that is already…

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) announced a research initiative that aims to expand precision medicine strategies for diagnosing and treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study, called PRECISIONS (for Prospective tReatment EffiCacy in IPF uSIng genOtype for Nac Selection), is being funded by a $22 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and …

Investigational therapy AD-214 raised no safety concerns in preliminary studies in non-human primates, and AdAlta, the therapy’s developer, is now planning to launch a Phase 1 clinical trial in humans, the company announced. AD-214 is a modification of AdAlta’s original lead candidate for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis…

Activating a dopamine receptor on fibroblast cells (connective tissue cells) may help slow, or even reverse, fibrosis in mice, a study suggests. The study, “Selective YAP/TAZ inhibition in fibroblasts via dopamine receptor D1 agonism reverses fibrosis,” was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Fibrosis — abnormal…

MN-001, a potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), will soon have patent protections in China. MediciNova, the company developing MN-001 (tipelukast), received a Notice of Allowance from the Chinese Patent Office, which means that the company’s application fulfills all necessary requirements. Once issued, the patent is expected to…

Esbriet (pirfenidone) shows similar benefits for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in real-world settings as it does in clinical trials, a new study shows. “Pirfenidone in real life: A retrospective observational multicentre study in Italian patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis” was published in the journal…

Men who are active smokers and experience faster respiratory decline when diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are at greater risk to develop lung cancer, according to a study. Clinicians should be aware of this risk pattern in order to detect and treat lung cancer early in IPF patients, as…