Suppressing the production of a protein called NPAS2Â eased signs of lung scarring (fibrosis) in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a new study showed. The NPAS2 gene, which codes for NPAS2, also was found to be more active in the lungs of IPF patients than in those…
Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) bound to tiny vesicles loaded with Ofev’s active ingredient reduced lung inflammation and scarring while  promoting lung tissue repair in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a study has shown. This combination strategy worked better than Ofev alone in both young…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Dupixent (dupilumab). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is progressive, which means this lung disease inevitably worsens, making it increasingly difficult for patients to…
The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) journey is, if nothing else, full of surprises. Some of those surprises come in the form of comorbidities, which could be a result of age, a suppressed immune system, or simply luck of the draw. The comorbidities we face are as unique as we…
Long-term exposure to even low levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2), an air pollutant with a strong odor, may place people at a higher risk of developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a study in over 400,000 U.K. residents found. The association’s strength grew as genetic susceptibility to the disease and…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review an application seeking the approval of Ofev (nintedanib) for children ages 6 to 17 with fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). If approved, Ofev would become the first and only therapy available to treat children with fibrosing ILDs, according…
When is a larger number the better choice? It depends. Recently, I’ve noticed some people in the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community embracing numbers in studies without understanding their context. In terms of dollars, bigger numbers are better if you’re talking about savings, but smaller numbers are better if you’re…
People with Sjögren’s syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) who develop pulmonary fibrosis (PF) have poorer survival than those without PF, a study in Taiwan finds. Researchers found that continuously low albumin levels — a sign of inflammation — could act as a risk factor for developing PF. A smaller…
A three-protein signature can be used to differentiate between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other lung disorders and may be a noninvasive biomarker of the rare disease, according to a new study. While the scientists stressed that further research will be needed to validate the…
How much of a powerhouse in the world of rare disease medicine do you have to be to effect change? Advocacy is tough, especially when you’re trying to influence organizations that are responsible for federal policy. So where to start? How about starting with a single voice? The biblical story…
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