Existing and emerging treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Existing and emerging treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2019 Jan 11;: Authors: Kolilekas L, Papiris S, Bouros D Abstract INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and invariable fatal interstitial lung disease. Current antifibrotic treatment halts disease progression but do not cure the disease itself. In the last decade, a substantial understanding in disease pathobiological mechanisms led to the development of numerous clinical trials testing promising pharmacologic agents. Areas covered: In this review, we summarize and discuss current and emerging pharmacological therapies for IPF and highlight the potential of different promising investigational compounds in phase II-IV trials with positive or pending results. Expert commentary: Existing therapies for IPF slow disease progression and recent advances in understanding IPF complex pathogenesis unfolded multiple new possible therapeutic targets. A relevant number of promising clinical trials targeted specific biologic pathways, are ongoing or upcoming, but we are far away from a definitive cure of IPF soon. An 'oncologic approach' via tailoring medicine could be a realistic therapeutic intervention that may improve expectancy and quality of life in IPF. PMID: 30632421 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine - Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: Expert Rev Respir Med Source Type: research