Promising advances in treatments for the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Following the INPULSIS and ASCEND studies, leading to the first two approved antifibrotic therapies for patients with IPF, ongoing investigations are firmly exploring novel agents for a targeted effective and better tolerated therapy able to improve the natural history of the disease. AREAS COVERED: This review aims to analyze recent advances in pharmacological research of IPF, discussing the currently available treatments and the novel drugs under investigation in phase 3 trials, with particular emphasis on BI 1015550 and inhaled treprostinil. The literature search utilized Medline and Clinicaltrials.org databases. Critical aspects of clinical trial design in IPF are discussed in light of recently completed phase III studies. EXPERT OPINION: While randomized clinical trials in IPF are currently underway, future objectives should explore potential synergistic benefits when combining novel molecules with the existing therapies and identify more specific molecular targets. Moreover, refining the study design represent another crucial goal. The aim of the pharmacological research will be not only stabilizing but also potentially reversing the fibrotic changes in IPF.

Case of a 33-Year-Old Woman With Hemoptysis and Migrant Nodular Cavitary Lesions.

We describe the case of a young 33-year-old woman that was referred to our clinic for evidence of migrant cavitary nodules at CT scan, dyspnea, and blood sputum. Her physical examination showed translucent and thin skin, evident venous vascular pattern, vermilion of the lip thin, micrognathia, thin nose, and occasional Raynaud phenomenon. We prescribed another CT scan that showed multiple pulmonary nodules in both lungs, some of which had evidence of cavitation. Because bronchoscopy was not diagnostic, we decided to perform surgical lung biopsy. At histologic examination, we found the presence of irregularly shaped, but mainly not dendritic, foci of ossification that often contained bone marrow and were embedded or surrounded by tendinous-like fibrous tissue. After incorporating data from the histologic examination, we decided to perform genetic counseling and genetic testing with the use of whole-exome sequencing. The genetic test revealed a heterozygous de novo missense mutation of COL3A1 gene, which encodes for type III collagen synthesis, and could cause vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Experimental autotaxin inhibitors for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible, and fatal lung disease with unmet medical needs. Autotaxin (ATX) is an extracellular enzyme involved in the generation of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Preclinical and clinical data have suggested the ATX-LPAR signaling axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis and the progression of IPF. AREAS COVERED: The aim of this review is to provide an update on the available evidence on autotaxin inhibitors in IPF and further details on the ongoing clinical studies involving these molecules. EXPERT OPINION: The development of autotaxin inhibitors as a potential therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has gained attention due to evidence of their involvement in the disease. Preclinical and early-phase clinical studies have explored these inhibitors' efficacy and safety, offering a novel approach in treating this disease. Combining autotaxin inhibitors with existing anti-fibrotic agents is considered for enhanced therapeutic effects. Large phase III trials assessed Ziritaxestat but yielded disappointing results, highlighting the importance of long-term observation and clinical outcomes in clinical research. Patient stratification and personalized medicine are crucial, as pulmonary fibrosis is a heterogeneous disease. Ongoing research and collaboration are essential for this advancement.

An update on emerging drugs for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a look towards 2023 and beyond.

INTRODUCTION: Currently approved drug treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pirfenidone and nintedanib, have been shown to slow lung function decline and improve clinical outcomes. Since significant advances in the understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms in IPF, novel potential agents are being tested to identify new targeted and better tolerated therapeutic strategies. AREAS COVERED: This review describes the evidence from IPF phase II and III clinical trials that have been completed or are ongoing in recent years. The literature search was performed using Medline and Clinicaltrials.org databases. Particular attention is paid to the new inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4B (BI 1015550), being studied in a more advanced research phase. Some emerging critical issues of the pharmacological research are highlighted considering the recent outstanding failures of several phase III trials. EXPERT OPINION: An exponential number of randomized clinical trials are underway testing promising new molecules to increase treatment choices for patients with IPF and improve patients' quality of life. The next goals should aim at a deeper understanding of the pathogenic pathways of the disease with the challenging goal of being able not only to stabilize but also to reverse the ongoing fibrotic process in patients with IPF.

An up-to-date review of approved and emerging antibody therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: The use of pirfenidone and nintedanib in treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) has shown significant slowing down of the progressive functional decline in these patients. In recent times, antibody-based therapies with precise molecular targets have also been explored as alternative treatments to IPF. AREAS COVERED: This review aims to summarize the available updates regarding monoclonal antibodies that have been tested in IPF. The drugs describedare developed to antagonize inflammation,immunity pathways and fibrogenesis. Currently, the anti-CTGF pamrevlumab has demonstrated a significant reduction in functional decline as compared to placebo and is undergoing the last stages of phase 3 trial. EXPERT OPINION: Although antibody-based therapies for IPF have had unsatisfactory results in most trials in the last few years, the pursuit of therapeutic development in this field should continue to deliver a more personalized treatment approach in the future, which is currently not available with existing treatment options. However, several molecules are still under study and some have shown encouraging results in the early phases of clinical trials. Future investigations need to be more carefully designed and valid predictive markers of response to treatment should be used to enhance the effectiveness of future trials.

GATA1-defective immune-megakaryocytes as possible drivers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disorder with limited therapeutic options. Insufficient understanding of driver mutations and poor fidelity of currently available animal models has limited the development of effective therapies. Since GATA1 deficient megakaryocytes sustain myelofibrosis, we hypothesized that they may also induce fibrosis in lungs. We discovered that lungs from IPF patients and Gata1low mice contain numerous GATA1negative immune-poised megakaryocytes that, in mice, have defective RNA-seq profiling and increased TGF-ß1, CXCL1 and P-selectin content. With age, Gata1low mice develop fibrosis in lungs. Development of lung fibrosis in this model is prevented by P-selectin deletion and rescued by P-selectin, TGF-ß1 or CXCL1 inhibition. Mechanistically, P-selectin inhibition decreases TGF-ß1 and CXCL1 content and increases GATA1positive megakaryocytes while TGF-ß1 or CXCL1 inhibition decreased CXCL1 only. In conclusion, Gata1low mice are a novel genetic-driven model for IPF and provide a link between abnormal immune-megakaryocytes and lung fibrosis.

Challenges in the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) requires the careful exclusion of secondary causes of interstitial lung disease (ILD), and the collaboration among different specialists is considered paramount to establish a diagnosis with high diagnostic confidence. The multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) has assumed an increasing importance over the years in the different phases of the IPF diagnostic work-up. AREAS COVERED: The role of MDD in the diagnosis and management of IPF will be described. Practical insights will be provided into how and when to perform MDD based on the available scientific evidence. Current limitations and future perspectives will be discussed. EXPERT OPINION: In the absence of high diagnostic confidence, agreement between different specialists during MDD is recognized as a surrogate indicator of diagnostic accuracy. Often, despite a lengthy evaluation, the diagnosis remains unclassifiable in a significant percentage of patients. MDD therefore appears to be pivotal in attaining an accurate diagnosis of ILDs. The discussion among different specialists can also include other specialists, such as rheumatologists and thoracic surgeons, in addition to the core group of pulmonologists, radiologists, and pathologists. Such discussions can allow greater diagnostic accuracy and have important effects on management, pharmacologic therapies, and prognosis.

Monitoring small airway dysfunction in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease: a retrospective and prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Small airway dysfunction (SAD), a hallmark of early lung function abnormality, is a major component of several chronic respiratory disorders. The role of SAD in patients with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) has not been explored. METHODS: We conducted a two-parts (retrospective and prospective) study to collect pulmonary function tests from CTD-ILD patients. SAD was defined as at least two of the three measures (MMEF, FEF 50%, and FEF 75%) must be 65% of predicted values. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to evaluate association between SAD and other pulmonary function parameters. Mixed effects regression modeling analysis was used to assess response to treatment. RESULTS: CTD-ILD patients with SAD and without SAD were compared in this study. In the retrospective study, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) from 491 CTD-ILD patients were evaluated, SAD were identified in 233 (47.5%). CTD-ILD patients with SAD were less smokers (17.6% vs. 27.9%, p = 0.007) and more females (74.3% vs. 64.0%, p = 0.015) than those without SAD. CTD-ILD patients with SAD had lower vital capacity (% predicted FVC, 70.4 ± 18.3 vs. 80.0 ± 20.9, p < 0.001) and lower diffusion capacity (% predicted DLCO, 58.8 ± 19.7 vs. 63.8 ± 22.1, p = 0.011) than those without SAD. Among 87 CTD-ILD patients prospectively enrolled, significant improvement in % predicted FVC was observed at 12-months follow-up (6.37 ± 1.53, p < 0.001 in patients with SAD; 5.13 ± 1.53, p = 0.002 in patients without SAD), but not in diffusion capacity and SAD parameters. CONCLUSION: In our cohort, about half of CTD-ILD patients have SAD, which is less frequent in smokers and more common in female patients. CTD-ILD patients with SAD have worse pulmonary function compared to those without SAD. Improvement of FVC but no improvement of SAD was observed in CTD-ILD patients after treatment.

BI 1015550: an investigational phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor for lung function decline in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

INTRODUCTION: The two available therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pirfenidone and nintedanib, slow down but do not halt IPF progression. Therefore, several agents with specific molecular targets have been recently investigated to find a cure for IPF. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibition is known for its anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties. BI 1015550, an oral preferential inhibitor of the isoform PDE4B, could express complementary activity to current therapies in IPF and other forms of progressive pulmonary fibrosis. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we first provide an overview toof the current IPF treatment market, followed by the description of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of BI 1015550. The main preclinical and early clinical evidence on BI 1015550 is then described, as well as its potential as an IPF treatment. EXPERT OPINION: Oral treatment with BI 1015550 was shown to stabilize lung function as compared to placebo over 12 weeks, both among patients with and without background antifibrotic use, with an acceptable safety profile in a phase 2 trial, and a phase 3 trial has been initiated. To date, this represents to date the largest effect size for an IPF investigational drug tested in a phase 2 trial with the shortest duration.

Road Toward a New Model of Care for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Lazio Region.

A timely, confirmed diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) has a significant impact on the evolution of the disease. The current model of care in the Lazio region (in Italy) was assessed on the basis of real-world data provided by the four reference centers responsible for diagnosing and treating IPF. The 5-year, population-based, retrospective longitudinal study provided the data that is at the basis of the current proposal for a new clinical and therapeutic pathway (DTCP) and has been shared with regional decision makers. A DTCP must be defined and based on four pillars: GPs, pulmonologists, IPF centers, and telemedicine. Each must play a role within a sort of hub-and-spoke model. IPF centers remain the hubs, while spokes are identified in trained GPs and pulmonologists.

Advances with pharmacotherapy for the treatment of interstitial lung disease.

INTRODUCTION: In recent decades, the primary focus of pharmaceutical research in interstitial lung diseases (ILD) has been on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Recently, pharmaceutical development has also focused on other forms of ILDs, including connective tissue diseases associated ILD, fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and sarcoidosis. AREAS COVERED: The authors summarize the advances in pharmacotherapy for the treatment of ILD. Specifically, the authors review the most recent studies and discuss the most recent research findings and future prospects. EXPERT OPINION: Data collected over the past years have confirmed the efficacy of antifibrotic drugs on slowing disease progression in IPF. The usual strategy for CTD-ILD management is represented by the combined use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. There is an urgent need for new target therapies. The concept of progressive fibrosing ILD has emerged in the ILD community in recent years, which has led to grouping several diseases with a common disease behavior to find an effective treatment . At present, selecting the best therapy in ILDs should be reasonably performed on a case-by-case basis through a multidisciplinary team discussion in tertiary ILD centers, taking into consideration patients' symptoms, lung functional trends, and radiological changes.

COVID-related fibrosis: insights into potential drug targets.

INTRODUCTION: Lung injury in severe COVID-19 pneumonia can rapidly evolve to established pulmonary fibrosis, with prognostic implications in the acute phase of the disease and long-lasting impact on the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors. This is an emerging medical need, and it has been hypothesized that antifibrotic treatments could have a role in ameliorating the fibrotic process in the lungs of these patients. AREAS COVERED: The safety and efficacy of available antifibrotic drugs (nintedanib and pirfenidone) and novel promising agents are being assessed in several ongoing clinical trials that were performed either in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care, or in discharged patients presenting fibrotic sequalae from COVID-19. Literature search was performed using Medline and Clinicaltrials.org databases (2001-2021). EXPERT OPINION: Despite the strong rationale support the use of antifibrotic therapies in COVID-related fibrosis, there are several uncertainties regarding the timing for their introduction and the real risks/benefits ratio of antifibrotic treatment in the acute and the chronic phases of the disease. The findings of ongoing clinical trials and the long-term observation of longitudinal cohorts will eventually clarify the best management approach for these patients.

Adjunctive corticosteroid treatment for organizing pneumonia in COVID-19 patients with persistent respiratory failure.

Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, clinical, radiological and histopathological features consistent with viral-induced organizing pneumonia (OP) have been reported as hallmark characteristics of the disease. Here, we describe the case of ten patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia treated with methylprednisolone 1mg/kg for showing clinical and radiological features suggestive of OP at least 20 days after symptom onset and despite standard treatment for COVID-19.