Experimental cancer drug shows promise as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Experimental cancer drug shows promise as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Researchers have shown that the drug saracatinib shows promise as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Saracatinib worked as well as or better than two approved drugs in reducing tissue scarring in preclinical IPF models, according to the study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Researchers from National Jewish Health, Mount Sinai Ichan School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine and AstraZeneca collaborated on the research that identified the oral therapy treatment based on a novel computational approach that analyzed multiple drugs developed for other diseases.

This initial research provides hope that we will soon be able to offer IPF patients another means of treating their disease. This research is potentially an important step forward for patients with IPF. Currently approved medications have varying reactions and side effects.”

Gregory Downey, MD, Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs, National Jewish Health and Study’s Lead Author

IPF is a progressive disease in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. It affects approximately 50,000 people in the United States each year and is currently incurable. In people with IPF, tiny air sacs in the lungs become damaged and increasingly scarred, making it difficult for oxygen to reach the blood.

Nintedanib and prifenidone were previously approved by the Food and Drug Administration to slow disease progression. In evaluating 32 separate therapies already developed for other diseases, researchers identified saracatinib as the best candidate. They discovered that saracatinib reduced the fibrotic response in cells obtained from both normal lung tissue and IPF lung tissue. Additionally, they found that saracatinib reduced collagen and other lung scarring measures as much or more than nintedanib and prifenidone.

Following the results, a phase 1/2 trial called “STOP-IPF” was launched, testing saracatinib versus a placebo in adults with IPF. The process is expected to be completed in a year.

“Our main focus is to show that saracatinib is safe in humans, and if we can show that it is safe and effective, I hope we can improve patients' quality of life,” said Dr. Downey.

For more information about the STOP-IPF trial, contact Kaitlin Fier at 303.270.2852 or visit the National Jewish Health Trial website.

Source:

National Jewish Health

Reference:

Ahangari, F., et al. (2022) Saracatinib, a selective Src kinase inhibitor, blocks fibrotic responses in preclinical models of pulmonary fibrosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202010-3832OC.

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