Bispecific antibody therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
Official title: A Novel Bispecific Antibody for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at Virtici, LLC · NIH-11320898 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new antibody therapy called VTC-890 is being developed to block two inflammatory signals in IPF to slow lung scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virtici, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $903,600 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL164202-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320898 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or related fibrotic lung conditions in preclinical development phases (human studies not yet specified in abstract).
✕Less likely to help
Patients with IPF may not benefit if the approach does not effectively block the targeted cytokines or if safety concerns arise.
What this research studies
This project aims to create VTC-890, a bispecific antibody that neutralizes LIGHT and TL1A to interfere with pro-fibrotic pathways in IPF. The team will test how well VTC-890 blocks these signals and reduces the downstream processes that drive tissue remodeling in the lungs. The work includes preclinical studies to show that this approach can slow or halt disease progression in IPF models. If successful, the therapy could offer a new option for patients who currently have limited treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could slow lung scarring and improve breathing for people with IPF.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports targeting cytokine pathways to reduce fibrosis, but this exact bispecific approach for IPF is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Virtici, LLC
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Neil a — Virtici, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Neil a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.