Development of a Regenerative Drug Candidate for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

At Scripps Research in California, Assistant Professor Michael Bollong is on the hunt for promising therapeutic molecules that increase the body’s natural capacity for repair. If successful, the activity of stem cells in the lungs will be augmented, repairing the underlying damage that causes pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and deadly form of interstitial pneumonia, as many patients survive only two to five years after diagnosis. Those suffering from this disease progressively lose lung function due to the irreversible deposition of scar tissue in the lower airway. Currently, there are two medicines available that can slow the progression of IPF, but as of now, there is no option that addresses the disease’s underlying cause: the inability of the lower airway to repair and regenerate. Assistant Professor Mike Bollong and his team at Scripps Research, a nonprofit biomedical research institute in Southern California, are developing a regenerative and reparative drug to treat the root cause of IPF. This once-weekly inhaled drug candidate would accelerate stem cell-based repair of the lung. The Bachrach Family Foundation’s support is instrumental in advancing this novel therapeutic toward clinical trials in human patients. This drug, if successful, would be the first regenerative therapy for treating IPF and holds the potential to transform the treatment of chronic pulmonary diseases as well as dramatically change patient care by offering a widely accessible, effective at-home therapy.