Repurposing Vonoprazan as an inhaled therapy for IPF
Official title: Repurposing Vonoprazan as an Inhalation Therapy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11366024 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,556,310 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL180705-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366024 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with IPF or related fibrosing lung diseases who may be eligible for future inhaled therapy studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without IPF or those with different lung diseases may not benefit from this specific IPF-focused therapy.
What this research studies
This project aims to repurpose vonoprazan into an inhaled treatment for IPF, focusing on how it affects airway acidity and a key fibrotic pathway. Researchers will study how the inhaled drug influences ATP12A activity, airway surface liquid pH, and TGF-β1–driven fibrosis in lung tissue or models. The work combines preclinical experiments with careful translation toward human relevance, given that IPF currently has limited options and poor survival. If successful, the approach could offer a new option to reduce disease progression and improve lung function for IPF patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with IPF could have a new inhaled therapy that slows fibrosis and improves breathing.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that acidified airway surfaces contribute to fibrosis; this project builds on that concept and explores a repurposed drug with potential translational value.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Xiaopeng — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Li, Xiaopeng
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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.