Cancer drug shown to slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

A British study has found that nintedanib, a drug used to treat cancer, can slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved two clinical trials involving 1,066 people with IPF. Participants were selected at random to either take 150mg of nintedanib or a dummy drug (placebo) twice per day throughout the course of the trial.

The drug was found to reduce the annual decline in breathing capacity typically seen in people with IPF, slowing the progression of the disease.

These results could be promising for the development of IPF treatment options, which are currently very limited and not available throughout Europe.

Read the original news article. 

Read the research paper. 

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis task force

The European Lung Foundation has been working with people with IPF and patient organisations to help update the 2011 European Respiratory Society guidelines, by adding new research on treatments and the patients’ perspective on the condition

Focus groups have been held with patients and carers across Europe to give feedback on key issues in IPF treatment and management, and highlight the patients’ priorities.

This feedback will then be included in the final guideline document, with a response from the Task Force to the key issues raised by patients.

Find out more.