Bexotegrast for IPF Earns EMA Orphan Drug Designation

Bexotegrast for IPF Earns EMA Orphan Drug Designation

Pliant Therapeutics’ experimental oral anti-fibrotic therapy bexotegrast has received orphan drug designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as a potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the company announced. EMA gives this designation to therapies that have the potential to improve care for conditions that affect fewer…

What You Can Do to Bring a Season of Hope and Joy

With just a few days remaining before Christmas, not much has changed this year in the search for a cure for pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Scientists continue to pursue theories searching for a clue that will lead to a cure or even more effective therapies. But even research that does…

Coping With Chronic Illness as Life Throws Me a Curveball

Curveball is a baseball term, but it also can apply to life when something surprising or unexpected happens. It’s been several months since my last column, and in that time, life has thrown me a curveball. I’ve been constantly battling my illness, and so much has happened. I am…

FDA Orphan Drug Designation Awarded to Ifenprodil for IPF

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to ifenprodil, the active agent in NP-120, an investigational oral medicine for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This designation gives Algernon Pharmaceuticals, as the therapy’s developer, certain incentives including tax credits, fee waivers, and a guarantee for…

Study Testing App to Ease Anxiety Opens Nationwide Enrollment

The first-of-its-kind Vicore COMPANION Study is now recruiting participants across the U.S. to test Almee, a new artificial intelligence (AI) app designed to help people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) manage their anxiety. Developed by Vicore Pharma, Almee is an investigational digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that uses…