Researchers develop new treatment for lung fibrosis

New York, Nov 11 : Lung fibrosis — a condition in which the lungs become scarred over time — has been a concern for Covid-19 patients, say researchers, adding that they have now developed a new treatment option for lung fibrosis.
Lung fibrosis’ symptoms include shortness of breath, dry cough, feeling tired, weight loss and nail clubbing. Complications may include pulmonary hypertension, respiratory failure, pneumothorax and lung cancer.
People with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), also called lung fibrosis, have a life expectancy fewer than five years. Fibrotic diseases cause organ failure leading to nearly 45 per cent of all deaths in the U.S. Existing therapies do little to slow the progression.
Now the research team from Purdue University, US, have developed two targeted therapies for people with IPF.
The two different therapeutic approaches are published in the journals — Science Translational Medicine and EMBO Molecular Medicine.
“This is a horrible disease that claimed the lives of my neighbour next-door and a good friend’s wife,” said a study author Philip S. Low of Purdue University.