The coordinator of the Area of Diffuse Interstitial Lung Disease (EPID) of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), Dr. Ana Villar, has emphasized that "preserving lung function and the quality of life of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for a longer time" involves "diagnosing this pathology earlier."
Likewise, she has pointed out that "ensuring specialized follow-up and continuing to research to have new therapeutic strategies" constitute the other "pillars" necessary to "improve the prognosis of patients" with this chronic, progressive, serious, and unknown origin disease, which entails a continuous deterioration of respiratory function.
Coinciding with the commemoration, this Monday, September 7, of World Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Day, Villar has highlighted the "important advances in its knowledge and treatment" achieved "in recent years." For this reason, she has stressed the importance of perfecting early diagnosis, given that this "is fundamental to be able to assess the patient in a specialized unit and initiate the appropriate therapeutic and follow-up strategies before a greater deterioration of lung function occurs."
In this context, she has reviewed the most common symptoms, including progressive dyspnea and persistent dry cough, which can be confused with other respiratory pathologies and cause delays in the identification of the disease. In the presence of signs that persist or worsen over time, she has urged to consult a healthcare professional to clarify their cause.
Recent therapeutic advances
Among the progress made, she has highlighted that the European Commission granted marketing authorization last July to nerandomilast, marketed as "Jascayd," to treat adults with idiopathic and progressive pulmonary fibrosis. According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), this medication presents a mechanism of action different from that of other available therapies and acts by preferentially inhibiting the enzyme PDE4B, involved in the processes of fibrosis and pulmonary inflammation.
Likewise, the data from the Phase 3 clinical trials "TETON-1" and "TETON-2" have recently been published in the journal "The New England Journal of Medicine", in which the use of inhaled treprostinil is associated with a lesser reduction in forced vital capacity compared to placebo and with a lower risk of clinical worsening.
In light of this scenario, Villar has reiterated that it is "a priority" to continue "promoting research in interstitial lung diseases", in addition to "favoring early diagnosis and ensuring that patients can access specialized care." As he concluded, "the approach to these pathologies requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists, nursing professionals, and respiratory physiotherapy, along with other specialists, according to the needs of each patient."