New oral medications for treating progressive lung scarring
Official title: Novel oral small molecules for progressive pulmonary fibrosis
Funded at Novomedix, INC. · NIH-11008167 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new oral medication for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that aims to slow down or even reverse lung damage by targeting cells that cause scarring, offering a safer and more effective option than current treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Novomedix, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $306,872 |
| NIH project number | 1R43HL176343-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11008167 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or other forms of progressive pulmonary fibrosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-progressive lung diseases or those who do not have a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of oral medication aimed at treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a serious lung disease that leads to progressive scarring of lung tissue. The approach involves creating small molecules that can inhibit the activation of myofibroblasts, which are responsible for excessive collagen production in the lungs. By targeting these cells, the treatment aims to not only slow down the progression of the disease but potentially reverse some of the damage caused by fibrosis. The research is being conducted by NovoMedix, Inc. in San Diego, and it seeks to provide a safer and more effective alternative to existing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new treatment that significantly improves the quality of life and survival rates for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting myofibroblast activation for treating fibrosis, indicating that this approach may be viable.
Where this research is happening
-
Novomedix, INC.
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Swindlehurst, Cathy a — Novomedix, INC.
- Study coordinator: Swindlehurst, Cathy a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Molecular clues to progressive lung scarring
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-
p53 acetylation and alveolar stem cell aging in progressive lung fibrosis
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Support-T: a mobile tool to help people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers get palliative care and planning
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Defining how early pulmonary fibrosis develops at the molecular level
Researchers are studying early stages of pulmonary fibrosis at the molecule-by-molecule level to understand how the disease starts and progresses in people.
-
How lung cells change in early and worsening pulmonary fibrosis
Researchers will map how specific lung cells and their local neighborhoods change over time in people at risk for or with pulmonary fibrosis using advanced tissue-based gene mapping.
-
The effects of air pollution on progressive pulmonary fibrosis
This study is looking at how air pollution, especially tiny particles and nitrogen dioxide, might lead to a serious lung condition called progressive pulmonary fibrosis, particularly in people living in areas that are more vulnerable to pollution.
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.