• A bacterial protein fragment kills lung cells in pulmonary fibrosis. Learn more.1, 2
  • 31% of first degree relatives of patients with pulmonary fibrosis had interstitial lung abnormalities on CT. Learn more.3
  • Investigators concluded that “first-degree relatives of patients with both familial and sporadic [nonfamilial] IPF appear to be at similar risk [for undiagnosed interstitial lung disease (ILD)].” Learn more.4
  • The incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) doubled over the decade, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn more.5
  • The CDC identified a statistically significant cluster of IPF patients diagnosed at a Virginia medical center. Learn more.6
  • An estimated 50,000 people die from IPF in the U.S. each year, more deaths than most cancers including breast cancer. See source study7 and cancer statistics.8 This statistic does not include the high percentage of people who are never diagnosed. See graphic below. Experts agree that we don’t know the extent of deaths and that more research is needed.

Estimated percentage of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients in each severity who remain undiagnosed across the US, Japan, and five major EU markets.

52% of Mild Cases Diagnosed
33% of Moderate Cases Undiagnosed
17% of severe cases diagnosed

Source: Datamonitor Healthcare’s proprietary idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis survey, July 2015


“If micro-organisms are triggering and/or sustaining the disease and we are able to figure this out, then a cure should be in sight.” 

– Dr. Jerry Eu, Former Director,
Immunology/Fibrosis at the NIH (2016)

%

Mortality Rate without a lung transplant

%

Die within 5 Years of Diagnosis

%

Die within 2 Years of Diagnosis

%

Percentage IPF is initially misdiagnosed

%

Percentage of Commercially Available Diagnostic Tests

Could a green tea extract reverse fibrosis?

UC-SF pilot study may provide an ethical basis for a long term clinical trial according to the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn more.9

References:

1. Touchstone, L.A. (2020, March 24). Bacterial protein fragment kills lung cells in pulmonary fibrosis, study finds. News Bureau I ILLINOIS. https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/807422.

2. D’Alessandro-Gabazza, C.N., Kobayashi, T. , Yasuma, T. et al. “A Staphylococcus pro-apoptotic peptide induces acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. ” Nature Communications, vol. 1 1, no. 1, 2020 page 1539. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15344-3.

3. Hunninghake, Gary et al. “Interstitial Lung Disease in Relatives with Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care, February 3, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201908-1571OC.

4. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201908-1571OC.

5. Verma, Subodh, Slutsky, Arthur S. “Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis — New Insights.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 356, no. 13, 2007, pp. 1370-1372. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr070490.

6. CDC Report: Dental Personnel Treated for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis at a Tertiary Care Center — Virginia, 2000—2015 Weekly / March 9, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6709a2.htm?s_cid=mm6709a2_w.

7. Bors, Melinda, et al. “Cognitive Function in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.” Chronic Respiratory Disease, Nov. 2015, pp. 365—372, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1479972315603552.

8. American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Statistics. “American Cancer Society | Cancer Facts & Statistics. (n.d.).” https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/.

9. Chapman, Harold, et al. “Reversal of TGFβ1-Driven Profibrotic State in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 382, no. 11, 2020, pp. 1068-1070, https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1915189.

10. Wynn, TA. “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Fibrosis.” The Journal of Pathology, vol. 214, no. 2, 2008, pp. 199-210, https://doi.org/10.1002/path.2277.