News

FibroGen, Inc., recently disclosed potentially groundbreaking results from a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of the company’s investigational drug FG-3019 in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Data indicated that the monoclonal antibody agent was able to reduce lung fibrosis in a portion of the IPF patients enrolled, to…

The heart’s right ventricle in systemic sclerosis patients is impaired when compared to people without the disease, according to a study titled “Impact of pulmonary fibrosis and elevated pulmonary pressures on right ventricular function in patients with systemic sclerosis,” published in the journal Rheumatology. Patients with systemic…

VolitionRx recently reported preliminary results from a pilot study showing that its NuQ blood assay was capable of detecting 86 percent of relevant idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases among the 78 participants of a clinical trial at Liège University Hospital. The NuQ test utilizes the company’s proprietary Nucleosomics technology platform, which identifies and measures circulating fragments…

In a recent study titled “UK asbestos imports and mortality due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” researchers highlighted the need for more accurate and specific methods of diagnosing and separating asbestosis from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The study was published in the journal Occupational Medicine. The World Health Organization considers…

Galectin Therapeutics, Inc., announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its patent application “Method for Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis” — number 13/999,389 — on its lead compound GR-MD-02. Galectin Therapeutics is currently developing carbohydrate-based therapies to treat…

A recent study showed that worsening symptoms of lung fibrosis in systemic sclerosis patients is linked to high levels of antibodies against the chemokine receptors Cxcr3 and Cxcr4. The results were revealed at the 4th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress held in Lisbon, Portugal, Feb. 18-20 in the presentation “Antibodies against chemokine…

Coinciding with the Rare Disease Day 2016 theme, “Patient Voice — Join us in making the voice of rare diseases heard,” an international survey’s results were released, giving voice to more than 500 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients across 20 countries, and detailing the tumult of emotions they experience living with a…

IVA337, the leading drug candidate from the biopharmaceutical company Inventiva, received a prize at the recent 4th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress  for its innovative character in treating systemic sclerosis. IVA337 is currently being tested in a Phase 2b clinical trial. At the congress, Inventiva researchers showed that IVA337 has…

Mitophagy, a protective mechanism against mitochondria reactive oxygen species (ROS), in lung macrophages is a key mechanism underlying the development of pulmonary fibrosis, according to a study titled “Macrophage Akt1 Kinase-Mediated Mitophagy Modulates Apoptosis Resistance and Pulmonary Fibrosis,” and published in the journal Immunity. Alveolar macrophages,…

Last week’s hot topic on pulmonary fibrosis was Country Music Star Joe Nichols Shares His Dad’s IPF Story in ‘Breathless,’ a Public Awareness Campaign written by Daniela Semedo. This article was about country music artist Joe Nichols partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim to raise awareness about idiopathic pulmonary…