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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease most commonly seen in people between the ages of 50 to 70 years. It is associated with complications like chronic hypoxia, cor pulmonale, pneumothorax, pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure. Although medications like corticosteroids and cytolytic drugs are used to reduce the lung inflammation present in the disease, they provide only symptomatic relief. Till now, there is no FDA approved drug for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, this may soon change because a large, well-controlled, multi-national clinical trial program has demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of Pirfenidone in the treatment of IPF.

 

According to a study presented at the American Thoracic Society’s International Conference, Toronto, daily consumption of Pirfenidone, an antifibrotic agent, can slow down the progression of IPF by improving the lung capacity. A phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted on 275 Japanese patients with mild-to-moderate IPF by Takashi Ogura, a lead scientist at Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center in Yokohama, Japan. The patients were randomly divided into three groups and were administered 1,800 mg/day (high dose) or 1,200 mg/day (low dose) of pirfenidone, or placebo for 52 weeks. The change in vital capacity  was assessed at week 52, besides noting the progression free survival time. The researchers found that the loss of vital capacity in the high dose regimen group was significantly lower when compared to the placebo group. The rate of deterioration of IPF was also reduced in patients taking pirfenidone. The drug was relatively well tolerated and was found to increase the progression free survival time over 52 weeks. The only side effect of the drug to be noticed was photosensitivity, which was mild in severity.

 

About 200,000 Americans suffer from IPF and around 50,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, as per the 2007 statistics of National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. If pirfenidone is approved by the FDA after further clinical trials, it will be a breakthrough not only in the treatment of IPF but will also be helpful in the treatment of other fibrotic lung diseases.

 

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