Gefapixant Safe, But Failed to Reduce Cough Frequency

Gefapixant Safe, But Failed to Reduce Cough Frequency

Gefapixant (MK-7264), an investigational cough suppressant, was safe and well-tolerated by patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but did not significantly reduce chronic coughing, according to data from a Phase 2 clinical trial. Results from this trial were shared in the study, “Treatment of Persistent Cough in Subjects…

Tyvaso Improved Lung Function in IPF Patients With PH

Four months of treatment with Tyvaso (inhaled treprostinil) significantly improved lung function in adults with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), according to a post-hoc analysis of data from the Phase 2/3 INCREASE clinical trial. PH-ILD comprises a group of conditions characterized by significant lung scarring (fibrosis), including…

Balancing the Rituals of Risk Management

I was born into a risk management family. My parents built a mom and pop insurance agency into a regional empire, and now my brother and I are deep in it, too. This works because my personality is naturally cautious. I don’t go on solo mountain bike rides longer…

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Studied as Potential Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can counteract some of the key features of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in mice and human lung cells, a recent study reveals. The findings suggest this treatment, involving the delivery of pure oxygen in a high pressure chamber, should be investigated more closely as a potential PF…

Blood Biomarker May Help Predict IPF Survival

Investigators have discovered a new biomarker in a molecule called cutaneous T-cell-attracting chemokine, or CTACK, that may help determine the course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The discovery was detailed in the study, “Cutaneous T-cell-attracting chemokine as a novel biomarker for predicting prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary…

Inhaled PRS-220 Aims to Treat Both IPF and ‘Long COVID’ PF

Pieris Pharmaceuticals plans to start clinical development of PRS-220 in 2022 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — and also will advance the investigative, inhaled therapy for “long COVID” PF, or post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis, the company said. The clinical development of PRS-220 for long COVID pulmonary fibrosis will be…

Esopremazole for Acid Reflux May Ease IPF Inflammation, Scarring

The acid reflux medication esopremazole, commonly used to ease symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), may be able to reduce lung scarring and inflammation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a recent study suggests. “Esomeprazole favorably regulates a network of genes involved in lung fibrosis [scarring],” according…