A pulmonary fibrosis proof-of-concept wave puts antifibrotic progress within reach

Halting fibrosis has been one of drug development’s most persistent challenges, but the science is reaching a tipping point. Drug developers are starting to strike a workable balance between broad-acting approaches that carry toxicity risk and more selective strategies that may sacrifice potency, and patients with a rare form of lung fibrosis may be among the first to benefit.

With at least 20 therapies in Phase II testing for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — most with first-in-class potential — the next two years are poised to deliver proof-of-concept readouts that help identify the signaling pathways most central to fibrosis progression and guide development strategy...