Mary Chapman, features writer —

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted its orphan drug designation to Alentis Therapeutics’ antibody-based therapy lixudebart (ALE.F02) for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Orphan drug designation is given to support the accelerated development of investigational treatments for rare diseases, defined as those affecting fewer than 200,000…

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) said its two-year-old patient Community Registry achieved a “significant milestone” in its goal to drive more research and discoveries in pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), reaching its 2,000th participant. The registry opened in July 2022 to provide scientists with…

Sweden-based Vicore Pharma has granted exclusive rights to pharmaceutical company Nippon Shinyaku to develop and commercialize its treatment candidate C21 (VP01) in Japan, with an initial focus on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Nippon will be operationally and financially responsible for the development of C21 in Japan, where…

Five new Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) scholars will each use $100,000, granted over the course of two years, to research new ways to diagnose, treat, or manage pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The six-year-old program awards grants each year to help scientists improve their understanding of PF, a chronic…

For the 14th year, a cast of Broadway luminaries will take the stage for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s (PFF) largest fundraiser, Broadway Belts for PFF! The March 18 gala, which may also be viewed virtually, will raise funds and awareness for the more than 250,000 U.S. residents thought to…

Almee, an investigational app that offers personalized treatment to help people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), was found to significantly reduce anxiety levels in PF patients who participated in a pivotal randomized study. Positive results from the COMPANION (NCT05330312) study were announced by Alex Therapeutics and Vicore…

The pharmaceutical company Humanetics will use a federal grant to fund a series of studies aimed at advancing the development of BIO 300 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — for one, testing the treatment candidate for its effectiveness in easing lung scarring, or fibrosis. BIO 300 is thought to…

Supporters are gearing up to mark Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, set aside every September, to call attention to the rare lung disease that affects more than 250,000 individuals in the U.S. and 400,000 in Europe. For its part, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), with its campaign theme “Embrace Your…

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is urging patients to use only federally approved oxygen delivery devices, as nonprescription supplemental oxygen may be unreliable and cause serious health problems. In a position statement, the organization said that those living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and related disorders should stick…

Innovate UK has awarded biotechnology company Senisca £571,350 (about $712,000) to develop oligonucleotide treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The UK-based company is working on innovative biologic treatments that use oligonucleotides — short strands of RNA or DNA — to reverse senescence in IPF-specific tissues. Senescence, which…