Drug to tackle lung scarring shows promise
University of Edinburgh College of Medicine News Jun 07, 2017
People with a lung scarring condition that leaves them fighting for breath could be helped by a new medication, research suggests.
Results from an early stage clinical trial show that the new drug has no serious side effects and was well tolerated by patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The findings also reveal promising signs that the drug  called TD139  may help to slow progression of disease.
The trial led by the University of Edinburgh involved 24 patients who were treated for two weeks with either TD139 or a dummy treatment.
After two weeks, those treated with the drug had reduced levels of key molecules in their blood that are linked to a worsening of the disease.
TD139 appeared safe and was well tolerated by patients in this study.
"This is a welcome and much needed break–through for the treatment of IPF. This inhaled drug is delivered directly into the lung, is concentrated within lung cells and has minimal side effects in the short term," said Dr Nikhil Hirani from the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh.
TD139 works by blocking a molecule called galectin 3, which is known to play a key role in the scarring process. The drug is given to patients by inhalation.
The research was initially developed by a collaboration between scientists from the University of Edinburgh and Lund University in Sweden.
The project is being developed by Galecto Biotech, a Swedish company.
Experts are now planning a further clinical trial to work out the optimum dose for the therapy.
The drug will then be tested in a much larger, randomised study, to check whether the approach offers any benefit for patients.
Findings from the first trial were presented at the American Thoracic SocietyÂs annual conference.
"Galectin–3 is also involved in the scarring process in other organs of the body. This research opens up new potential to develop other galectin–3 blockers to treat fibrotic conditions of the heart, liver and kidneys," said Dr Alison Mackinnon from the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh.
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Results from an early stage clinical trial show that the new drug has no serious side effects and was well tolerated by patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The findings also reveal promising signs that the drug  called TD139  may help to slow progression of disease.
The trial led by the University of Edinburgh involved 24 patients who were treated for two weeks with either TD139 or a dummy treatment.
After two weeks, those treated with the drug had reduced levels of key molecules in their blood that are linked to a worsening of the disease.
TD139 appeared safe and was well tolerated by patients in this study.
"This is a welcome and much needed break–through for the treatment of IPF. This inhaled drug is delivered directly into the lung, is concentrated within lung cells and has minimal side effects in the short term," said Dr Nikhil Hirani from the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh.
TD139 works by blocking a molecule called galectin 3, which is known to play a key role in the scarring process. The drug is given to patients by inhalation.
The research was initially developed by a collaboration between scientists from the University of Edinburgh and Lund University in Sweden.
The project is being developed by Galecto Biotech, a Swedish company.
Experts are now planning a further clinical trial to work out the optimum dose for the therapy.
The drug will then be tested in a much larger, randomised study, to check whether the approach offers any benefit for patients.
Findings from the first trial were presented at the American Thoracic SocietyÂs annual conference.
"Galectin–3 is also involved in the scarring process in other organs of the body. This research opens up new potential to develop other galectin–3 blockers to treat fibrotic conditions of the heart, liver and kidneys," said Dr Alison Mackinnon from the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh.
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