Nintedanib Reveals Remarkable Efficacy in Alleviating Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis Symptoms
In the groundbreaking INBUILD trial, researchers discovered that nintedanib
can significantly improve the lives of patients suffering from progressive
pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Nintedanib
holds promise not only in reducing the progression of dyspnea, fatigue, and
cough but also in mitigating the overall impact of ILD over 52 weeks in
patients grappling with PPF.
The trial results were published in the journal European Respiratory Journal.
Pulmonary fibrosis, a
condition characterized by scarring of the lungs, often leads to symptoms such
as dyspnea (shortness of breath) and cough, profoundly impacting patients’
daily lives. Hence, researchers conducted a trial, that focused on the effects
of nintedanib on PPF symptoms using the Living with Pulmonary Fibrosis (L-PF)
questionnaire to assess changes in patients’ conditions.
The trial included 663 patients with fibrosing interstitial lung
disease (ILD), excluding idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but with more than 10%
lung involvement on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans and
evidence of ILD progression within the past 24 months. Patients were randomly
assigned to receive either nintedanib or a placebo, with researchers analyzing
L-PF questionnaire scores from baseline to week 52 using mixed models for
repeated measures.
Findings:
- The results revealed a significant positive
impact of nintedanib on patients’ lives compared to the placebo group. - Those receiving nintedanib experienced smaller
increases (worsenings) in adjusted mean L-PF questionnaire total scores (0.5
versus 5.1) at week 52. - This trend was also observed in symptom scores
(1.3 versus 5.3), dyspnea (4.3 versus 7.8), and fatigue (0.7 versus 4.0). - One notable finding was the decrease in L-PF
questionnaire cough score in the nintedanib group, in stark contrast to the
placebo group where cough scores increased (-1.8 versus 4.3). - Additionally, the impacts of ILD, as assessed
by the L-PF questionnaire impact score, decreased slightly in the nintedanib
group while increasing in the placebo group (-0.2 versus 4.6). - These positive outcomes were consistent across
different patient subgroups, including those with a usual interstitial
pneumonia-like fibrotic pattern on HRCT and those with other fibrotic patterns
on HRCT.
The findings suggest that nintedanib has the potential to not only
reduce the worsening of dyspnea, fatigue, and cough but also mitigate the
overall impact of ILD over 52 weeks in patients with progressive pulmonary
fibrosis.
This breakthrough offers hope to individuals grappling with the
debilitating effects of pulmonary fibrosis, as it paves the way for improved
treatment strategies and enhanced quality of life for those affected by this
challenging respiratory condition. As researchers continue to unravel the
complexities of pulmonary fibrosis, advancements like these represent a
significant step forward in the pursuit of better therapeutic options and
increased well-being for patients.
Further reading: Effects of nintedanib on symptoms in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis. DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00752-2023
