New medicines to block Nox4 and reduce lung scarring in pulmonary fibrosis
Official title: Advanced Pre-clinical development of Nox4 inhibitors for Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at Fibronox, L.l.c. · NIH-11099950 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing drugs that block an enzyme called Nox4 to try to slow or stop scarring in the lungs of people with pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fibronox, L.l.c. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,091,039 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL172475-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099950 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or other progressive fibrotic lung diseases would be the likely candidates for future clinical trials stemming from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without fibrotic lung disease, those needing immediate life‑saving care, or patients with unrelated lung conditions are unlikely to benefit from this preclinical program right now.
What this research studies
This project is a partnership between a biotech startup (Fibronox) and Emory University to develop selective Nox4 inhibitor drug candidates aimed at treating lung fibrosis. The team will optimize compounds in the lab, run biological assays, and test safety and anti-fibrotic activity in preclinical models. Work includes improving drug properties, filing supporting data for regulatory steps, and preparing the program for future human clinical trials. The goal is to move first-in-class Nox4 inhibitors toward studies in patients with fibrotic lung disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could become a new targeted treatment that slows or reverses lung scarring and improves breathing and survival for people with pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Current FDA-approved IPF drugs slow decline but do not stop disease, and selective Nox4 inhibition is a novel approach with supportive preclinical data but no approved Nox4 drugs to date.
Where this research is happening
-
Fibronox, L.l.c.
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patti, Joseph — Fibronox, L.l.c.
- Study coordinator: Patti, Joseph
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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.