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In patients with a progressive interstitial lung disease, 62% of whom had a CT pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia, those who received nintedanib had a lower annual rate of decline in the forced vital capacity than those who received placebo at 52 weeks.

Nerandomilast (BI 1015550) is an orally administered preferential inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4B with antifibrotic and immunomodulatory effects. In a phase 2 trial involving patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, treatment with nerandomilast stabilized lung function over a period of 12 weeks. In this phase 3, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive nerandomilast at a dose of 18 mg twice daily, nerandomilast at a dose of 9 mg twice daily, or placebo, with stratification according to background antifibrotic therapy (nintedanib or pirfenidone vs. none). The primary end point was the absolute change from baseline in forced vital capacity (FVC), measured in milliliters, at week 52. A total of 1177 patients underwent randomization, of whom 77.7% were taking nintedanib or pirfenidone at enrollment. Adjusted mean changes in FVC at week 52 were -114.7 ml (95% confidence interval [CI], -141.8 to -87.5) in the nerandomilast 18-mg group, -138.6 ml (95% CI, -165.6 to -111.6) in the nerandomilast 9-mg group, and -183.5 ml (95% CI, -210.9 to -156.1) in the placebo group. The adjusted difference between the nerandomilast 18-mg group and the placebo group was 68.8 ml (95% CI, 30.3 to 107.4; P<0.001), and the adjusted difference between the nerandomilast 9-mg group and the placebo group was 44.9 ml (95% CI, 6.4 to 83.3; P = 0.02). The most frequent adverse event in the nerandomilast groups was diarrhea, reported in 41.3% of the 18-mg group and 31.1% of the 9-mg group, as compared with 16.0% in the placebo group. Serious adverse events were balanced across trial groups. In patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, treatment with nerandomilast resulted in a smaller decline in the FVC than placebo over a period of 52 weeks. (Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim; FIBRONEER-IPF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05321069.).

In this randomized, controlled trial, the use of pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis led to a slower rate of loss in forced vital capacity than the use of placebo. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive, and fatal lung disease that is characterized by irreversible loss of lung function. 1 Although periods of transient clinical stability may be observed, continued progression of the disease is inevitable. 2 The prognosis is poor, with a 5-year survival rate that is similar to the rates for several cancers. 3 – 6 Pirfenidone is an oral antifibrotic therapy that has been evaluated for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in three phase 3, randomized, controlled trials. One of these trials was conducted in Japan and involved 275 patients. It was followed by two multinational studies, Clinical Studies . . .

In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, treatment with nintedanib, an intracellular inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases, led to a reduced rate of loss of forced vital capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal lung disease characterized by worsening dyspnea and progressive loss of lung function. 1 A decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) is consistent with disease progression and is predictive of reduced survival time. 1 – 6 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is believed to arise from an aberrant proliferation of fibrous tissue and tissue remodeling due to the abnormal function and signaling of alveolar epithelial cells and interstitial fibroblasts. 7 The activation of cell-signaling pathways through tyrosine kinases such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of . . .

Abstract Rationale Nintedanib and pirfenidone slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but the disease continues to progress. More data are needed on the safety and efficacy of combination therapy with nintedanib and add-on pirfenidone. Objectives To investigate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic and exploratory efficacy endpoints in patients treated with nintedanib and add-on pirfenidone versus nintedanib alone. Methods Patients with IPF and FVC greater than or equal to 50% predicted at screening who completed a 4- to 5-week run-in with nintedanib 150 mg twice daily without dose reduction or treatment interruption were randomized to receive nintedanib 150 mg twice daily with add-on pirfenidone (titrated to 801 mg three times daily) or nintedanib 150 mg twice daily alone in an open-label manner for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with on-treatment gastrointestinal adverse events from baseline to Week 12. Analyses were descriptive and exploratory. Measurements and Main Results On-treatment gastrointestinal adverse events were reported in 37 of 53 patients (69.8%) treated with nintedanib with add-on pirfenidone and 27 of 51 patients (52.9%) treated with nintedanib alone. Predose plasma trough concentrations of nintedanib were similar when it was administered alone or with add-on pirfenidone. Mean (SE) changes from baseline in FVC at Week 12 were −13.3 (17.4) ml and −40.9 (31.4) ml in patients treated with nintedanib with add-on pirfenidone (n = 48) and nintedanib alone (n = 44), respectively. Conclusions Nintedanib with add-on pirfenidone had a manageable safety and tolerability profile in patients with IPF, in line with the adverse event profiles of each drug. These data support further research into combination regimens in the treatment of IPF. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02579603).

In a trial, patients with moderate to severely advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were treated with nintedanib plus sildenafil or nintedanib alone, with the goal of decreasing IPF symptoms. There were no between-group differences in any of three symptom measures.

Abstract Rationale Immunosuppression was associated with adverse events for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in the PANTHER-IPF (Evaluating the Effectiveness of Prednisone, Azathioprine and N-Acetylcysteine in Patients with IPF) clinical trial. The reason why some patients with IPF experience harm is unknown. Objectives To determine whether age-adjusted leukocyte telomere length (LTL) was associated with the harmful effect of immunosuppression in patients with IPF. Methods LTL was measured from available DNA samples from PANTHER-IPF (interim analysis, n = 79; final analysis, n = 118). Replication cohorts included ACE-IPF (Anticoagulant Effectiveness in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) (n = 101) and an independent observational cohort (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center-IPF, n = 170). LTL-stratified and medication-stratified survival analyses were performed using multivariable Cox regression models for composite endpoint-free survival. Measurements and Main Results Of the subjects enrolled in the PANTHER-IPF and ACE-IPF, 62% (49/79) and 56% (28/50) had an LTL less than the 10th percentile of normal, respectively. In PANTHER-IPF, exposure to prednisone/azathioprine/N-acetylcysteine was associated with a higher composite endpoint of death, lung transplantation, hospitalization, or FVC decline for those with an LTL less than the 10th percentile (hazard ratio, 2.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–7.87; P = 0.045). This finding was replicated in the placebo arm of ACE-IPF for those exposed to immunosuppression (hazard ratio, 7.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.52–33.84; P = 0.013). A propensity-matched University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center IPF cohort showed a similar association between immunosuppression and composite endpoints (death, lung transplantation, or FVC decline) for those with an LTL less than the 10th percentile (hazard ratio, 3.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.73–8.30; P = 0.00085). An interaction was found between immunosuppression and LTL for the combined PANTHER-IPF and ACE-IPF clinical trials (P  interaction = 0.048), and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center IPF cohort (P  interaction = 0.00049). Conclusions LTL is a biomarker that may identify patients with IPF at risk for poor outcomes when exposed to immunosuppression.

Acetylcysteine, which has been advocated as a treatment for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, showed no benefit over placebo with respect to loss of lung function in such patients at 60 weeks. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive lung disease of unknown cause that is characterized by the histopathological or radiologic patterns of usual interstitial pneumonia in a typical clinical setting. 1 , 2 To date, no pharmacologic therapies have been shown to improve survival. 1 In the IFIGENIA study (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis International Group Exploring N -Acetylcysteine I Annual), investigators found that a three-drug regimen (prednisone, azathioprine, and acetylcysteine) preserved pulmonary function better than a two-drug regimen consisting of azathioprine plus prednisone. 3 In PANTHER-IPF (Prednisone, Azathioprine, and N -Acetylcysteine: A Study That Evaluates Response in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis), patients with mild-to-moderate impairment in . . .

Abstract Rationale The 6-minute-walk test (6MWT) is a practical and clinically meaningful measure of exercise tolerance with favorable performance characteristics in various cardiac and pulmonary diseases. Performance characteristics in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have not been systematically evaluated. Objectives To assess the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the 6MWT and estimate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in patients with IPF. Methods The study population included all subjects completing a 6MWT in a clinical trial evaluating interferon gamma-1b (n = 822). Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and other parameters were measured at baseline and at 24-week intervals using a standardized protocol. Parametric and distribution-independent correlation coefficients were used to assess the strength of the relationships between 6MWD and measures of pulmonary function, dyspnea, and health-related quality of life. Both distribution-based and anchor-based methods were used to estimate the MCID. Measurements and Main Results Comparison of two proximal measures of 6MWD (mean interval, 24 d) demonstrated good reliability (coefficient = 0.83; P < 0.001). 6MWD was weakly correlated with measures of physiologic function and health-related quality of life; however, values were consistently and significantly lower for patients with the poorest functional status, suggesting good construct validity. Importantly, change in 6MWD was highly predictive of mortality; a 24-week decline of greater than 50 m was associated with a fourfold increase in risk of death at 1 year (hazard ratio, 4.27; 95% confidence interval, 2.57– 7.10; P < 0.001). The estimated MCID was 24–45 m. Conclusions The 6MWT is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of disease status and a valid endpoint for clinical trials in IPF.

IL-13 is a potential therapeutic target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); preclinical data suggest a role in tissue fibrosis, and expression is increased in subjects with rapidly progressing disease. Investigate efficacy and safety of tralokinumab, a human anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody, in subjects with mild to moderate IPF. Subjects received tralokinumab (400 or 800 mg), or placebo, intravenously every 4 weeks for 68 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to Week 52 in percent predicted FVC in the intention-to-treat population. Exploratory analyses included assessment of clinical response in subgroups with baseline serum periostin concentration above/below median. The study was stopped due to lack of efficacy after interim analysis. Neither tralokinumab 400 mg nor tralokinumab 800 mg met the primary endpoint; least-squares mean difference (95% confidence interval) percent predicted FVC from baseline to Week 52: -1.77 (-4.13 to 0.59) (P = 0.140) and -1.41 (-3.73 to 0.91) (P = 0.234), respectively. The primary endpoint was also not met in either treatment group in subgroups defined by periostin baseline concentration. The percentage of subjects with decline in percent predicted FVC greater than or equal to 10% at Week 52 was numerically greater for tralokinumab-treated subjects compared with placebo. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events for tralokinumab 400 mg, tralokinumab 800 mg, and placebo were cough (17.5, 30.5, 22.8%), IPF progression and exacerbation (21.1, 16.9, 22.8%), and upper respiratory tract infection (17.5, 20.3, 12.3%), respectively. Tralokinumab demonstrated an acceptable safety and tolerability profile but did not achieve key efficacy endpoints. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01629667).