IPF Patients and Doctors on Lookout for New Treatment Approaches

Spherix Global Insights, GmbH, a business intelligence and market research company based on Switzerland, recently reported a study revealing that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains a challenge in terms of treatment, especially since the majority of patients are diagnosed at already advanced disease stages. The Spherix study is entitled “Market Dynamix: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).”

Currently there are two approved drugs for IPF treatment: Esbriet (pirfenidone), developed by Roche, and Ofev (nintedanib), developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. Several companies are exploring potential new therapies, including MediciNova (tipelukast), Biogen (STX-100), Gilead (simtuzumab), Afferent (AF-219), and FibroGen (FG-3019). However, according to a Spherix press release, physicians are not well-informed concerning future therapeutic options for IPF and the potential benefits they may offer.

The Market Dynamic: IPF study is based on quantitative and qualitative research exploring the present and future dynamics of treatments for the condition. Its conclusions are the result of an online survey with 100 pulmonologists who are part of the Spherix proprietary network of specialists and currently treating IPF patients, and through 15 in-depth interviews with international IPF experts. The survey was conducted in November 2015.

According to the report, physicians still debate the added benefit that older steroid-based therapies offer, and patients themselves are investigating treatment options outside the established therapeutic guidelines, such as stem cell-based therapies. The study also revealed that 80% of the physicians interviewed see slowing disease progression as the primary goal in IPF treatment, and 50% have concerns about the side effects and tolerability of current treatment options.

In addition, the study reveals a general concern that, after the approval of Esbriet and Ofev by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), those IPF therapies under development might have to reach a higher threshold of efficacy, potentially slowing down their arrival on the market.

Spherix also announced an upcoming report, “RealWorld Dynamix: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,” that analyzed medical records from 800 IPF patients in the United States and promises to offer new insights into the IPF market. Special attention was paid to patient clinical and social demographics, co-morbidities, medical and treatment history, and physicians’ opinions on treatment decisions and potential outcomes for IPF patients.

For more information on Spherix’s reports or to order a report, email the company at [email protected], or call 800-661-0571 (within the U.S.) or (41) 417-471-872 (within the EU).