News

People with rare disorders have a worse healthcare experience than those affected by chronic diseases, according to the results of an international survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. Indeed, rare disease patients overall give their healthcare experience a medium-low rating, of 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5,…

A new lung-on-a-chip recreates complex lung structures using a patient’s own cells, providing a more precise model for studying disorders such as pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a study reported. This second-generation model is expected to give researchers with a powerful new way to conduct basic lung research, and a faster,…

The American Lung Association (ALA) gave a Catalyst Award, worth $100,000 over two years, to a scientist whose study will address the regeneration of damaged lung tissue. Ya-Wen Chen, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine and stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the University Southern California (USC), will…

Galapagos and Gilead Sciences have suspended the worldwide ISABELA Phase 3 program investigating the potential of oral ziritaxestat (GLPG1690) to treat people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The decision to halt the program, which includes two identical Phase 3 trials — ISABELA 1 (NCT03711162) and ISABELA 2…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the investigational new drug (IND) application for ImmunoMet Therapeutics‘ treatment candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), IM156. The decision grants ImmunoMet permission to open studies of the therapy in people in the U.S. “FDA clearance of an IND for…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted priority review to an application for Esbriet (pirfenidone) as a treatment for unclassifiable interstitial lung disease (UILD). The supplemental new drug application was submitted by Genentech, Esbriet’s developer and a member of the Roche Group, based on…

Scores of virtual events are afoot around the world to mark Rare Disease Day 2021 on Feb. 28. The activities are focused on heightening awareness about rare diseases and the hundreds of millions of individuals they are thought to affect. Patients, caregivers, and advocates worldwide will sport denim ribbons and…

A researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center received the first $50,000 award of a new funding program jointly developed by the center and the Washington Research Foundation (WRF) to support the development of a new screening method to identify emerging therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).