Novel antibody therapy to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Official title: Translating a Novel Therapeutic Approach to the Treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at Vasarya Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11382077 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small business gig is developing a targeted antibody drug (VSR-H5) to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in patients, aiming for better safety and effectiveness than current medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vasarya Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Camden, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,126,840 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL170936-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382077 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who are candidates for experimental antibody therapies and device-free clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with IPF who cannot participate in early-phase trials or who do not respond to antibody-based approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on creating a new antibody drug that targets fibrotic tissue in IPF patients. The team will refine the antibody for stronger binding to diseased tissue while avoiding healthy tissue, and test its ability to slow fibrosis in lab and animal models. If successful, Phase I will optimize affinity and safety, followed by Phase II to advance toward clinical testing. The work is designed to minimize systemic side effects by focusing on a disease-specific epitope.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with IPF could experience slower disease progression and fewer treatment-related side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Other antibody therapies show promise in IPF models, but this approach aims for disease-specific targeting and improved safety.
Where this research is happening
-
Vasarya Therapeutics, INC.
Camden, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Ping — Vasarya Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hu, Ping
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Repurposing Pyrvinium as an Inhaled Therapy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
A patient-friendly look at a project trying to use an existing drug, pyrvinium, as an inhaled treatment option for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
-
Screening new compounds to reverse gene signatures in IPF lungs
A researcher hopes to find compounds that reverse harmful gene changes in the lungs of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
-
Unraveling IPF subtypes to guide prognosis and therapy
This grant aims to identify different IPF subtypes in the lung to improve how we predict outcomes and tailor treatments for people with IPF.
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Repurposing Vonoprazan as an inhaled therapy for IPF
A high-profile NIH grant is testing whether an existing drug, vonoprazan, can be inhaled to slow or reverse lung fibrosis in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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Proteomic profile of IPF progression to help tailor treatments
A study will look for blood protein patterns that predict how IPF lung disease will progress in patients.
-
Adrenergic Nerves and Noradrenaline in Lung Fibrosis
A physician-scientist-in-training at Yale seeks to build a patient-focused research program on how nerve signals and adrenaline affect lung scarring in IPF.
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.