News

Updated international guidelines to help clinicians diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. These new 2018 clinical practice recommendations are the result of a collaborative effort between experts from four major respiratory societies — the American…

A new in vitro lung tissue-on-a-chip system mimics tissue stiffening in pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and offers an accurate and rapid way to test treatment candidates, according to a new study. The study, “Fibrotic microtissue array to predict anti-fibrosis drug efficacy,” was published in the journal Nature…

Lung cancer is more prevalent among men with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) than women, and affects smokers at a higher rate, according to a systematic review of published studies. Researchers also found that squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer reported in IPF patients. The study, “…

Modifying the dose of Esbriet (pirfenidone) can effectively reduce the number of treatment-related adverse events without affecting the drug’s potential to manage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a new retrospective analysis of data from Phase 3 clinical trials shows. The findings of this recent post-hoc analysis were published in…

The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment candidate BBT-877 eased lung fibrosis (scarring) in a mouse model, according to South Korea-based Bridge Biotherapeutics. The company believes that BBT-877 may become the “best-in-class” medication for IPF. Data from a preclinical study on BBT-877 was presented at the 2nd Annual IPF…

A gene therapy designed to fight pulmonary fibrosis (PF) by extending the lifespan of lung cells has been found safe and does not cause or increase the risk of cancer in the lungs, despite some concerns to the contrary, a mouse study shows. Earlier this year, a research team at…

The European IPF registry offers important insights into the characteristics, care management, and outcomes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients in Europe, a study reports. Data from the registry showed that the most common symptoms reported by IPF patients are breathing difficulties, fatigue, and a dry cough, according to the…

A plant-based medicine called quercetin reversed pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model likely by reducing the burden of growth-arrested and fibrosis-promoting cells, called senescent cells, in the animals’ lungs, researchers report. Findings were published in the study, “Quercetin enhances ligand-induced apoptosis in senescent IPF fibroblasts and reduces lung…

Laparoscopic surgery in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients with acid reflux is safe and well-tolerated, but does not appear to significantly ease the decline in respiratory function that’s thought to be aggravated by reflux, according to a Phase 2 study. The research, “Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery for…

Surgery for lung cancer should be carefully considered in patients who also have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), because it is associated with poor outcomes, a study shows. The study, “Survival after repeated surgery for lung cancer with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a retrospective study,” was published in the journal…