Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Blocking Piezo2, a protein receptor that senses mechanical forces in tissues — ones such as stress, strain, and stiffness — may be a new way to slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a study by U.S. researchers. The scientists, who noted that this was the…

An imbalance in gene activity within two types of immune cells explains why idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) progresses but in people who develop lung fibrosis after a severe COVID-19 infection, their lungs get better, a new study finds. Researchers showed mortality risk in IPF and COVID-19 was tied to…

Blocking fatty acid synthase (FASN), an enzyme responsible for fatty acid production in cells, reduced the signs of induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in mice, according to a study identifying the enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for the condition. Experiments showed that FASN was elevated in lung scar…

The investigational therapy LYT-100 (deupirfenidone) significantly slowed lung function decline in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), outperforming the standard of care therapy Esbriet. PureTech Health’s treatment candidate also caused fewer gastrointestinal side effects in patients. That’s according to top-line data from the ongoing Phase…

Researchers have identified a type of pro-fibrotic immune cell associated with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in people who develop persistent breathing problems after recovering from COVID-19. The cells’ abundance correlated with the severity of fibrosis, or tissue scarring, as detected by CT scans. “The underlying cells and molecules that contribute…

Enrollment has been completed for a Phase 2a study that’s testing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment BBT-877, an investigational therapy from Bridge Biotherapeutics. The Phase 2a trial (NCT05483907) is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of BBT-877 in 120 adults with IPF, ages 40 and older, with or…

Pliant Therapeutics’ bexotegrast reversed the signs of lung scarring, while improving lung function and easing cough severity in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to top-line data from a small Phase 2a imaging trial. Using positron emission tomography (PET) scans, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital were able…

Researchers have developed an inhalable prototype medicine that may be able to repair lung scarring caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by stimulating the growth of stem cells directly in the lungs, a study reports. The study provides pharmacological proof of concept for an upcoming Phase 1 clinical trial…

Pliant Therapeutics’ Phase 2b BEACON-IPF trial testing bexotegrast, an investigational oral treatment, in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is now a pivotal, adaptive Phase 2b/3 trial. Accepted by European Union and global health authorities, the implementation of the adaptive design is expected to markedly shorten the therapy’s…

GRI Bio has been given the green light to begin a Phase 2a clinical trial testing its lead program candidate GRI-0621, a natural killer T-cell (NKT)-targeted therapy, in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in the U.K. The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) cleared the…