Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

Researchers discovered that mechanotherapy on damaged muscle tissue reduces both fibrotic tissue accumulation and inflammation while helping to increase tissue regeneration, according to a new study titled “Biologic-free mechanically induced muscle regeneration,” published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Although focusing on the repair…

A retrospective study analyzing data on insurance claims from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) revealed that the disease is associated with a significant economic and healthcare burden. The study, titled “Clinical and economic burden of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a retrospective cohort study,” was published in the…

A new study reported that patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) often experience lung function decline, which furthers disease progression. The study, titled “Change in forced vital capacity and associated subsequent outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” was published in the journal…

In a new study entitled “The matrix protein Fibulin-5 lies at the interface of tissue stiffness and inflammation in fibrosis,” an international team of scientists discovered a new protein – Fibulin-5 – involved in skin fibrosis, and with potential therapeutic implications in fibrosis in other organs, including…

In a new study, clinicians propose a new treatment protocol without immunosuppressants or high-dose steroids to manage and treat acute exacerbations in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study, titled “Survival in Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis acute exacerbations: the non-steroid approach,” was published in the journal…

In a new study, researchers reported a novel role for a receptor at the surface of macrophages (specialized cells of the immune system) in lung fibrosis resolution. The study, titled “TRPV4 Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Regulates LPS-Stimulated Macrophage Phagocytosis,” was published in the…

An analysis of pooled data from three Phase 3 clinical trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients shows that treatment with pirfenidone for one year significantly reduced disease progression. The study, titled “Pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: analysis of pooled data from three multinational phase 3 trials,” was published in…

A team of researchers report that a mouse’s age influences the ability of its mesenchymal stem cells to repair pulmonary fibrosis-induced damage, a finding with significant implications for stem cell therapies. The study, “Therapeutic benefits of young, but not old, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a chronic mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis,”…

Findings by a team of researchers suggest that levels of circulating endothelial cells and fibrocytes may be used as predictive biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The team’s study, “Levels of circulating endothelial cells are low in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and are further reduced by anti-fibrotic treatments,” was published in the journal…

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals recently presented results of the Phase III INPULSIS trials investigating the efficacy of OFEV® (nintedanib) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) at the American College of Chest Physicians Annual Meeting (CHEST 2015). The Phase III INPULSIS trials were randomized, double-blind studies designed to assess both the efficacy and safety…