What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis affects 200,000 US patients a year and 5 million world-wide.*Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28122457, http://www.waltonpulmonary.com/pdf/idiopathic%20pulmonary%20fibrosis.pdf
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28122457, http://www.waltonpulmonary.com/pdf/idiopathic%20pulmonary%20fibrosis.pdf
Why is it so terrible?
It has 100% mortality within 5 years without lung transplant and only 54% survival at 5 years with transplant. In fact, 40,000 Americans die from IPF every year.*Sources: http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201006-0894CI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27289573
Current FDA approved drugs (pirfenidone and nintedanib) have limited efficacy and significant side effects.
However, our drug utilizing VIP is a promising alternative treatment in development with anticipated improved efficacy and lower side effects.
Sources: http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201006-0894CI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27289573
So what is Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide?
Our development is using a novel Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) drug to treat Pulmonary Fibrosis and lung injury. VIP is a naturally occurring molecular peptide in the body that helps with decreasing inflammation and upregulates healing properties. VIP has proven clinical efficacy in patients with coronary artery disease, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, sarcoidosis, and an FDA safety trial (Phase I) in sepsis. Animal studies improve models of Crohn’s Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, and Iraq Afghanistan War Lung Injury, with potential for treating World Trade Center Lung Injury.
Consistent with prior U.S. Department of Defense funding, our indirect costs rate is 100% as of December 1, 2022.
