Algernon Pharmaceuticals announced its plans to conduct a new in vivo animal study comparing its lead anti-fibrotic NP-251 compound with clinically relevant doses of both Esbriet (pirfenidone) and Ofev (nintedanib), two approved medicines for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a chronic lung disease characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in…
The world’s biggest gathering of rare disease researchers, patient groups, pharmaceutical executives, and government officials is planned for April 10–12 in a Washington, D.C., suburb. Some 1,200 people have already registered to attend the World Orphan Drug Congress (WODC) USA 2019, set to take place at the Gaylord National Harbor…
Poor sleep quality — assessed by full-night sleep evaluation and patient questionnaires — is linked to an overall reduced quality of life in individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a study. The study, “Quality of life in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: The impact of sleep disordered breathing,”…
Oral administration of omipalisib, an investigational inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR cellular signals, can reduce the activity of pro-fibrotic cells in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), results from a Phase 1 trial show. These findings support studies to further explore PI3K and mTOR signals as potential…
About 100 scientists, researchers, pharmaceutical executives, and others will converge on Austria’s capital city early next month for the 2nd International Congress on Advanced Treatments in Rare Diseases. The March 4-5 meeting, to take place at the Hilton Am Stadtpark Vienna, features 27 speakers on a variety of disorders…
Hello, World! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Noah Greenspan. I am the founder and program director of the Pulmonary Wellness & Rehabilitation Center in New York City. I am also the founder of the Ultimate Pulmonary Wellness Webinar Series, the Ultimate Pulmonary…
A protein in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha family, called TRAIL, regulates a signaling cascade that promotes pulmonary fibrosis, researchers report, suggesting this protein opens potential new avenues for treating PF. The study, “TRAIL signals through the ubiquitin ligase MID1 to promote pulmonary fibrosis,” was published in the…
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have, on average, only slight cognitive impairment compared to healthy people. Also, IPF patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea have worse cognitive impairment. The study with those findings, “Impact of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea on the cognition in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,”…
Feeding black tea extract to mice in models of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) lessened several disease-associated fibrotic markers, a recent study found. The results suggest black tea extract may have a beneficial therapeutic effect by reducing fibrotic features. The study “Anti-fibrotic effect of black tea (Camellia sinensis) extract in experimental…
Vitamin D deficiency in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with functional and clinical predictors of disease severity and a higher risk of mortality, according to a new study. The findings also revealed that vitamin D is able to partially prevent lung fibrosis in a mouse model.
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