Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Disease Education Webinars Focus On Pulmonary Rehabilitation And The FDA's Breakthrough Drug Therapy Designation

CHICAGO, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is pleased to announce two upcoming webinars, one of which is related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting breakthrough therapy designation for two new investigational treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). An additional webinar will address the role of pulmonary rehabilitation in the care of patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Both webinars are part of the PFF's ongoing Disease Education Webinar Series, which serves the PF community.

"The breakthrough therapy designation is a reflection of the urgency to identify effective therapies for patients with IPF and the important findings from the ASCEND and INPULSIS 1 & 2 trials," said PFF Chief Medical Officer Gregory P. Cosgrove, MD. "If approved, therapies could proceed to market more quickly and provide benefit to patients."

The two investigational therapies, nintedanib (Boehringer Ingelheim) and pirfenidone (InterMune, Inc.), received FDA breakthrough therapy designation during the last week. The FDA designation follows the recent release of clinical data from the INPULSIS 1 and 2 (nintedanib) and ASCEND (pirfenidone) trials, both of which suggested efficacy in patients with IPF.

Pulmonary rehabilitation and participation in support groups have been demonstrated to be an important and beneficial part of total patient care. Registration is now open for the July 23 webinar: "Tools for Living Better with PF: Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Support Groups." Visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/webinars to learn more, register and submit questions.

On September 17 the PFF will present a Disease Education Webinar, "Drug Development/FDA," which will focus on the FDA's decision to expedite the review of nintedanib and pirfenidone for IPF patients. The speakers will also  answer the viewers' questions. PFF medical experts on the panel include: Gregory P. Cosgrove, MD, Harold Collard, MD, Kevin R. Flaherty, MD, MS, David J. Lederer, MD and Gene Sullivan, MD. Registration and additional information regarding the September 17 webinar will be announced in the near future.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is to serve as the trusted resource for the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community by raising awareness, providing disease education, and funding research. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, patients, and caregivers worldwide. PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside, the PFF's third biennial international health care conference, will be held November 12-14, 2015 in Washington, DC. For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 888.733.6741 or +1 312.587.9272 from outside of the US.

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which over a period of time the lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff, and scarred. The development of the scar tissue is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred and thicker, the lungs lose their ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. As a result, the brain and other organs don't receive the oxygen they need. In some cases, doctors can determine the cause of the fibrosis, but in most cases, there is not a known cause. When there is no known etiology for the fibrosis (and certain pathologic or radiographic criteria are met), the disease is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or IPF. IPF affects between 132,000-200,000 people in the United States (US), and between 37,000-40,000 people in the European Union (EU). The annual mortality is estimated to be 40,000 in the US, with an average survival of 2–3 years following diagnosis. There is no cure for IPF. There is presently no FDA-approved treatment for IPF in the US and limited therapeutic options available for individuals with mild-to-moderate IPF in the EU, Canada, and Asia.

Media Contact:
Michelle Michael
VP, Marketing & Communications
312-239-6628
[email protected]

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation