ResBiotic Subsidiary Alveolus Bio Focused on Lung, Gut Health

ResBiotic Subsidiary Alveolus Bio Focused on Lung, Gut Health

The biotech startup ResBiotic has created a lung disease-focused pharmaceutical spin-off — Alveolus Bio — and launched its first probiotic-based consumer health product called resB Lung Support. The parent company, based in Birmingham, Alabama, and its subsidiary are using $4.5 million in seed funding “to transform the respiratory care landscape…

Vitamin D Helped Reduce Lung Fibrosis in IPF Mice

Vitamin D lessenened lung scarring (fibrosis) in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by suppressing the activity of the PSAT1 enzyme, and subsequently the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, a study shows. PSAT1 is an enzyme that links metabolic and amino acid production pathways. The MAPK pathway is…

Facing IPF, Mortality, and a Future as an Only Child

Growing up as an only child, I’ve spent my whole life hearing what one Washington Post writer calls “a slew of profoundly unflattering and occasionally contradictory stereotypes.” I’ve been told many times how lucky I am that I don’t have to share my parents’ affection with siblings. Or…

Agomab Acquires Origo Biopharma, Will Develop Fibrosis Therapies

Agomab Therapeutics and Origo Biopharma are joining forces to develop new therapies for pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and other conditions caused by excessive tissue scarring, or fibrosis. “Agomab and Origo share a common vision that targeting growth factors has tremendous disease-modifying potential,” Tim Knotnerus, Agomab’s CEO, said in…

Discuss Palliative Care Soon After Diagnosis, PF Foundation Urges

Healthcare providers should broach the topic of palliative care — specialized care that may or may not include hospice — with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) patients shortly after they are diagnosed, according to a position statement recently issued by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF). “Soon after diagnosis, discussions of…

Current Smokers at Higher Risk of IPF Than Former Smokers

Smoking cigarettes substantially increases the risk of developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a population-based study conducted in Korea. The findings indicate the risk of IPF is greater in current smokers, compared with people who used to smoke but have since quit. The study, “Impact…

Companies Partner With Goal of Treating PF, Other Fibrotic Disorders

Oncodesign and TiumBio have partnered to develop therapies for various diseases caused by fibrosis, or tissue scarring, including pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Under the collaboration, the French company Oncodesign will identify, produce, optimize, and conduct early stage analysis of therapeutic candidates generated from Nanocyclix — a technology…