Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrotic
lung disease with no clear etiology and few therapeutic options.
Growth factors that act as mediators in the development of this disease might be important therapeutic targets.
Nintedanib is a triple-
tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a potent antagonist of
growth factors such as
platelet-derived growth factor,
vascular endothelial growth factor, and
basic fibroblast growth factor, and it is currently evaluated in clinical trials as a potential IPF
therapy. Treatment with
nintedanib may slow decline in lung function, decrease the frequency of exacerbations, and improve quality of life in subjects with IPF. This observation, together with extensive safety and pharmacokinetic data from studies of
nintedanib in
malignancy, led the way for the clinical development of this
drug in IPF. Observations from clinical trials, together with the preclinical data, suggest that
nintedanib may become an important therapeutic option for individuals with IPF. High-dose
nintedanib improved the quality of life, slowed the progression of lung
fibrosis and the decline of lung function, and reduced the rate of exacerbations in individuals with mild and moderate IPF. This is a short review based on the available data (September 2013) on
nintedanib.