Marta Figueiredo, PhD, managing science editor —

People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who undergo a bilateral lung transplant may have better postoperative lung function than those receiving single lung transplants, but long-term survival appears to be similar between the two procedures, a review study shows. While these findings may help guide clinicians’ decisions,…

Low blood levels of haptoglobin-related protein (HRP), a protein with antioxidant properties, may serve as a biomarker of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a recent study. The data also highlighted that IPF patients show significant changes in the levels of proteins involved in inflammatory and immune responses, as…

Taking oral dietary supplements of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) — an antioxidant in green tea — may stop and reverse the pro-fibrotic (scarring) state of the lungs of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a small study suggests. These early findings support larger studies of EGCG’s anti-fibrotic potential in IPF,…

Nogra Pharma’s experimental therapy GED-0507 limited body weight loss and the extension of lung scarring (fibrosis) — to a similar or greater extent than two approved anti-fibrotic therapies used as comparators — in mice with induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a study reported. These findings suggest that GED-0507 may be a therapeutic option for…

A protein fragment produced by bacteria commonly found in the lungs of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) promotes lung cell death and acute exacerbations, a study shows. “We discovered salt-loving bacteria in the lungs of patients with pulmonary fibrosis, and these bacteria secrete a peptide [a protein fragment] that marks…

Prolidase deficiency, an inherited enzymatic disease, may cause combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) syndrome in adulthood, a case study suggests. The report, “Prolidase deficiency: a new genetic cause of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema syndrome in the adult,” was published in the European…

Cohbar’s new investigational mitochondrial peptide (a small protein) called MBT#2, not only prevented scarring (fibrosis), but also slowed disease progression when fibrosis was already established in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to preclinical data. The new data was shared on the company’s website…

Men with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have poorer lung function and a higher frequency of heart-related diseases (comorbidities) than women with IPF, according to a Swedish study. The data, which showed no differences between the sexes in terms of quality of life, suggest that additional research is required to…

A joint research project between BioMed X and Boehringer Ingelheim has identified a new set of potential epigenetic targets for the treatment of two chronic lung diseases, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Epigenetics refers to DNA chemical modifications that can turn genes on or…

Algernon Pharmaceuticals has announced its plans to launch its first Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating one of two repurposed compounds — NP-120 for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or NP-178 for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — in the second quarter of 2020. This follows…