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Forum: Caring and Sharing
Thread: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis |
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twilyth
Master Cruncher US Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Post Count: 2130 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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'Beneficial inflammation' may promote healing in pulmonary fibrosis
----------------------------------------Inflammation has long been considered an integral part of the biological process that leads to deadly scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. New research at National Jewish Health, however, suggests that a little inflammation may also be crucial to the healing and repair processes in the lungs. Elizabeth Redente, PhD, assistant professor of cell biology at National Jewish Health, and her colleagues report in the April 2014 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology that the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α can speed recovery of injured lungs and accelerate the resolution of established fibrosis in a mouse model. . . . Dr. Redente and her colleagues gave mice TNF-α after their lungs had been injured and developed scar tissue. While these mice do normally heal from the lung injury, the researchers found that the TNF-α accelerated the recovery process. It reduced levels of collagen, the main component of scar tissue, and improved the flexibility of lung tissue well before the natural healing process would have begun. The researchers also found that knockout mice lacking the gene for TNF-α failed to heal as wild type mice eventually do. Note: a "knockout" mouse is one that has one or more coding sequences 'knocked out.' IOW they can no longer produce the protein that sequence coded for. TNF alpha is Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha   [Edit 4 times, last edit by twilyth at Apr 25, 2014 9:43:20 PM] |
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twilyth
Master Cruncher US Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Post Count: 2130 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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Boehringer will release Phase III data on new IPF drug in a couple weeks
----------------------------------------Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that the first results of the two confirmatory Phase III INPULSISTM trials, investigating nintedanib* in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), will be presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference taking place 16 – 21 May in San Diego. IPF is a rare, debilitating and fatal lung disease for which treatment options are limited. |
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twilyth
Master Cruncher US Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Post Count: 2130 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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Protein molecule that seems to delay progression of IPF
----------------------------------------Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have discovered a protein molecule that seems to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease that is often fatal three to five years after diagnosis. . . . In previous genetic studies of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis -- where no cause can be identified -- the researchers found variations in several genes known to be involved in pulmonary fibrosis, including in the gene coding for a protein called lysocardiolipin acyltransferase, or LYCAT. To investigate the potential role of LYCAT in pulmonary fibrosis, the researchers measured its levels in the blood of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. Patients with the highest levels of LYCAT had significantly better lung function and higher three-year survival rates than those with lower levels. "Since higher LYCAT levels directly correlate with better lung function and outcomes, we think the protein is playing some kind of protective role, or could be slowing the progress of pulmonary fibrosis," Huang said. "This suggests that boosting LYCAT levels in patients with pulmonary fibrosis may be a viable new therapeutic approach to treating the disease," Huang said. |
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twilyth
Master Cruncher US Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Post Count: 2130 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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Preliminary Data Supporting Veracyte Molecular Classifier for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Diagnosis to be Presented at ATS 2014
----------------------------------------Article SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Veracyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCYT) announced that early data demonstrating the company's ability to develop a molecular classifier differentiating interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), will be presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2014 International Conference taking place May 16-21, 2014 in San Diego. "We are excited to share our first proof-of-concept data for the development of a molecular classifier designed to improve ILD diagnoses, " said Bonnie Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Veracyte. "These conditions are often very challenging to diagnose, and the ability to deliver an early differential diagnosis without risky, invasive surgery could lead to significant improvement in treatment decisions for patients with suspected ILDs. This need is increasingly critical as the pipeline for IPF therapies expands, making increased life expectancy and quality of life improvements a possibility for patients who are accurately diagnosed." Not sure I understand exactly what this means but it seems to be directed being able to accurately categorize people with ILDs. And since better diagnosis can lead to better outcomes, that sounds like a very good thing. |
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twilyth
Master Cruncher US Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Post Count: 2130 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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Expanded access to IPF drug pirfenidone
----------------------------------------SAN DIEGO, May 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time in history, people suffering from the deadly lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) will have access to a therapy. The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) commends the steps taken by the company, InterMune, Inc., to provide an Expanded Access Program (EAP) for the investigational drug, pirfenidone. The CPF represents thousands of patients suffering from the disease in the US that claims as many lives each year as breast cancer yet has limited awareness and recognition. More at linkInterMune, Inc. announced today that the company will implement an EAP for pirfenidone. The EAP will be conducted under a treatment protocol limited to enrollment of IPF patients in the US who meet specific medical criteria. To enroll in the EAP, a patient must be assessed by a physician who specializes in treating IPF and whose hospital or clinic center is participating in the EAP. The patient must also meet specific eligibility requirements. This means that not all physicians can provide access to pirfenidone through the EAP and not all patients who seek pirfenidone will be able to get access to it through EAP. |
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twilyth
Master Cruncher US Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Post Count: 2130 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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Pirfenidone study results presented
---------------------------------------- In ASCEND, pirfenidone significantly reduced decline in lung function as measured by change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) from Baseline to Week 52 (rank ANCOVA p<0.000001). Additionally, significant treatment effects were demonstrated on both of the key secondary endpoints of change in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) (p=0.0360) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.0001). The secondary endpoint of dyspnea (shortness of breath) was not met. In ASCEND, treatment with pirfenidone was associated with fewer deaths although the study was not powered for and did not reach statistical significance on mortality. A pre-specified analysis of the pooled population from ASCEND and the two Phase 3 CAPACITY studies showed that the risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by 48% at Week 52 in the pirfenidone group compared to the placebo group (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.52, log rank p=0.0107). In ASCEND, treatment with pirfenidone showed a favorable safety profile and was generally well tolerated. Don't really understand all of that but that bit about a 48% reduction sounds very promising.Let us know how you're doing Alan.  |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Still awaiting new lung function tests and visit to my consultant
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
....I did write some months ago and the reply was that I did not meet the FVC criteria, which last test was 109% instead of between 50 and 80%, but since then I know I have deteriorated and I am waiting for new tests.....................
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
A drug used as a cancer treatment has been found to slow the progression of a fatal lung disease significantly.
Scientists from Southampton General Hospital discovered that nintedanib makes a dramatic difference to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The condition, which affects mainly men and former smokers, causes inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue. Sufferers have an average life expectancy of between three and five years, with 5,000 deaths and 5,000 new cases every year. The drug nintedanib was previously used to treat cancer and has been shown to slow the progress of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis +3 The drug nintedanib was previously used to treat cancer and has been shown to slow the progress of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Nintedanib works by blocking the chemical signals that activate the disease by creating excess tissue and scarring and causing breathing problems. The two studies, led by Professor Luca Richeldi, a consultant in respiratory medicine at Southampton General Hospital, compared the breathing capacity of 638 people with IPF who used the drug with 423 who took a placebo. Breathing capacity is measured by the amount of air a person can expel after their deepest breath, which is seriously affected in IPF sufferers. Researchers found that the decline in the breathing capacity of patients taking nintedanib was cut by around half over the two studies. The drug is now likely to be licensed worldwide within the next year, and avail-able to patients in the near future. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-263...isease.html#ixzz32An1PwBa Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook |
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twilyth
Master Cruncher US Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Post Count: 2130 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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Thanks Alan. I hope you can get back in for more tests soon. I guess the most you can do is to gently remind them - squeaky wheel, and all that.
---------------------------------------- There doesn't seem to be much difference between pirfenidone and nintedanib but here is an article that attempts to compare them. It's geared toward investors in the competing companies but there might be something there that can be of use. Using a categorical definition of efficacy in IPF (InterMune's primary endpoint) and comparing across trials, pirfenidone outperformed nintedanib. That's their bottom line, but there are a lot of caveats issued in getting to that conclusion so you need to take a look at the article. |
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