Targeted antibody treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Official title: Translating a Novel Therapeutic Approach to the Treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at Vasarya Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11259230 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new antibody drug designed to stick to and calm scarring in the lungs for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,107,500 |
| NIH project number | 4R44HL170936-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11259230 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, especially those with active or progressive scarring or who cannot tolerate current antifibrotic medications.
✕Less likely to help
People without IPF, those with other unrelated lung diseases, or those whose lung damage is very advanced and irreversible would not be expected to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Vasarya are developing VSR-H5, an antibody that selectively binds a unique marker only exposed in actively scarring lung tissue and spares healthy tissue. In the first phase they will improve the antibody's binding strength and remove safety liabilities to create a pool of candidate drugs. The team has already tested the tool compound on IPF patient lung samples and in multiple mouse models, showing reduced fibrosis and a clean toxicology profile so far. If those preclinical steps go well, the plan is to advance the leading candidates toward formal safety testing in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could slow or stop lung scarring with fewer systemic side effects than current IPF drugs, potentially improving symptoms and survival.
How similar studies have gone: Approved IPF drugs provide only modest benefit and antibody approaches like this are largely experimental with encouraging lab and animal results but not yet proven in humans.
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.
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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).
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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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Novel antibody therapy to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
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.
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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.
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.