Annual Meeting of the American Thoracic Society The annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society recently concluded.  Some exciting new data from clinical trials was presented. OFEV (Nintedanib) A new analysis from the major clinical trials that have already been concluded showed that patients with IPF who received OFEV had a 36% chance of improving or having stable lung … [Read more...]

Many of my patients that are on treatment with either OFEV or Esbriet receive assistance from Caring Voices Coalition.  As of the end of 2016, Caring Voices will no longer be supporting IPF patients.  This has created tremendous anxiety and stress as many patients are facing a many thousand dollar out-of-pocket cost to obtain access to their IPF treatments.  The reason behind … [Read more...]

The IPF community is happy to have 2 FDA approved medications.  However, our enthusiasm is tempered by the fact that neither Esbriet nor OFEV improve lung function. They both have been shown to slow the progression of IPF.  It is clear that more medications are needed to improve the outcomes of our patients. Reata Pharmaceuticals, a relative new-comer to Pulmonary Fibrosis, … [Read more...]

Phase 2 Study for Simtuzumab as IPF Treatment Stopped Gilead Sciences recently announced that their large phase 2 study of Simtuzumab (identified by the acronym RAINIER) was stopped at the mid-term analysis for lack of efficacy.  We were all saddened by the news.  The IPF community was riding high after two successful molecules were approved (Esbriet and OFEV).  However, we … [Read more...]

Until last year, the IPF community had no FDA approved medications to treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.  Today we have two medications (OFEV and Esbriet).  Both probably improve survival by slowing disease progression and decreasing the frequency of dangerous flares of the disease.  Unfortunately, these medications do nothing to decrease some of the most troubling symptoms … [Read more...]