News

Inhaled PRS-220 Aims to Treat Both IPF and ‘Long COVID’ PF

Pieris Pharmaceuticals plans to start clinical development of PRS-220 in 2022 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — and also will advance the investigative, inhaled therapy for “long COVID” PF, or post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis, the company said. The clinical development of PRS-220 for long COVID pulmonary fibrosis will be…

Esopremazole for Acid Reflux May Ease IPF Inflammation, Scarring

The acid reflux medication esopremazole, commonly used to ease symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), may be able to reduce lung scarring and inflammation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a recent study suggests. “Esomeprazole favorably regulates a network of genes involved in lung fibrosis [scarring],” according…

Computer Analysis IDs New IPF-halting Therapeutic Target

A computer analysis identified a tiny RNA molecule, or microRNA, as a potential therapeutic target to halt the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which was confirmed later in cell-based tests. Researchers now plan to use these results to develop new RNA-based therapeutics or small molecules with the potential…

EveryLife Introduces First of Kind ‘Roadmap’ to ICD Codes

To help patient advocacy leaders and their partners better understand how global health statistics codes — known as ICD codes — are assigned, updated, and revised in the U.S. health information system, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is presenting a first-of-its-kind resource guide. The foundation created the…

Thirona Bio, MannKind Team for Potential New IPF Inhaled Therapy

Thirona Bio has teamed with MannKind Corporation to develop and test a potential inhaled treatment for fibrotic lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). FBM5712, which Thirona is working to advance as a possible topical treatment of skin fibrosis, will be modified and investigated by MannKind for its…

FDA Accepts Priority Review Request for Tyvaso DPI

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted United Therapeutics’ application for a priority review of Tyvaso DPI, an experimental dry powder inhaled formulation of treprostinil, to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). …

Microgel-coated Cells Reverse Established PF in Mice

Scientists found that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) — cells that have similar properties to stem cells — individually coated with a soft microgel were able to reverse established lung tissue scarring in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis.  Their findings were reported in…