News

An antibody that protects against radiation-induced lung fibrosis could improve the treatment of cancers that stem from radiation damage to the lungs, according to a study. The research demonstrated that an antibody against connective tissue growth factor, or CTGF,  prevented pulmonary fibrosis in up to 80 percent of irradiated mice. Those…

Researchers in Finland have identified a protein called AMPK as a possible new target for therapies aimed to treat pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic diseases. Their study, “AMPK Negatively Regulates Tensin-Dependent Integrin Activity,” appeared in The Journal of Cell Biology. In human tissues, the space between adjacent cells, called…

Former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams is partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim to raise awareness of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease his father lived with for many years before his death in 2001. Williams is teaming up with the Breathless campaign (BreathlessIPF.com), which seeks to inform and prompt…

Preclinical data presented by Kadmon showed that the Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) pathway is a key player in the development of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), supporting the hypothesis that ROCK inhibition has therapeutic potential for the disease. The data was shown in a poster presentation at the 2017 Keystone Symposia on Injury, Inflammation and Fibrosis,…

Using Esbriet (pirfenidone) or Ofev (nintedanib) for a year reduces lung function decline in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, according to a review of nine clinical trials. Esbriet may also improve patients’ survival. But N-acetylcysteine failed to improve lung function or decrease mortality, the comparative study indicated. The article, “…

By discovering how the antifibrotic treatments Ofev (nintedanib) and Esbriet (pirfenidone) work, researchers hope to develop even better drugs to treat pulmonary fibrosis. The new insights into these drugs work was gained by making use of a new cell model of lab-grown cells derived from patients. The study,…

Boehringer Ingelheim has enrolled the first patient with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) in a clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Ofev (nintedanib) for treating the condition. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT02999178) will run for 52 weeks. It will be…

Esbriet (pirfenidone) improved life expectancy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by approximately 2.5 years compared to best supportive care, according to recent research. The study, “Predicting Life Expectancy For Pirfenidone In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,” was published in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy. Esbriet has been…

The LOXL2 protein plays a critical role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by helping promote lung tissue scarring, according to a study. LOXL2 is one of a family of proteins important to extracellular matrix (ECM), a non-cell component essential for providing structural and biochemical support to tissues and organs. LOXL2…

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), a trusted resource for the estimated 200,000 Americans with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), has published its new “Pulmonary Fibrosis Information Guide“ —  which gives patients, family members and healthcare providers a better understanding of PF as well as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The 36-page guide, available online here and…