Addressing the urgent need for new treatments for people living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most common forms of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) with symptoms including breathlessness during activity, a dry and persistent cough, chest discomfort, fatigue, and weakness. Although considered “rare,” IPF affects approximately three million people worldwide. There are more than 200 lung disorders that can lead to pulmonary fibrosis, which can negatively impact lung function, quality of life and may become life-threatening.

While current approved treatments for people living with IPF and other progressive fibrosing ILDs can help slow the disease progression, new therapies are needed.

“The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation supports increased pulmonary fibrosis (PF) research to lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses and better outcomes for patients. Clinical trials are essential to learning more about PF and developing new therapies. The clinical trial pipeline for pulmonary fibrosis is robust and we are hopeful that one day, researchers will find a cure for this devastating disease.” –  Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Boehringer Ingelheim’s BI 1015550—an investigational phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor—has the potential to address both pulmonary fibrosis—an irreversible scarring of lung tissue that negatively impacts lung function—and inflammation associated with progressive fibrosing ILDs. Based on research to date, the potential for reducing inflammation and fibrosis that is associated with PDE4 inhibition make PDE4B a promising target for further clinical development. BI 1015550 is an investigational therapy, which has not been approved for any proposed indication by any regulatory authority including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Boehringer Ingelheim is currently investigating its efficacy and safety profile. 

Initiation of our global Phase III trials evaluating BI 1015550 represents the next step in our journey to potentially bring this treatment forward. The trials are part of the FIBRONEER™ global program, which includes two Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials—FIBRONEER™-IPF (NCT05321069) in patients with IPF and FIBRONEER™-ILD (NCT05321082) in people living with other progressive fibrosing ILDs. The trials will be conducted in more than 40 countries.

Leveraging our more than 100 years of heritage in respiratory disease across a range of respiratory conditions, we have the ambition to go beyond slowing down disease progression and hope to one day discover a cure for these chronic, debilitating conditions. We look forward to expanding our knowledge through these trials and to continuing to work with regulatory agencies around the world to potentially bring this next-generation treatment to people living with these devastating diseases.

For more information, visit: FIBRONEER-IPF or FIBRONEER-ILD.

*The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis by raising awareness, providing disease education and driving research to find a cure.