FDA Grants Fast Track Designation For Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Drug

By Dr Deepu

Healio (9/11) reports that the Food and Drug Administration gave fast track designation to tipelukast, MediciNova’s experimental drug “for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.” The drug “demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activity in preclinical models through leukotriene receptor antagonism, as well as inhibition of phosphodiesterases and 5-lipoxygenase.” According to a company press release, “5-lipoxygenase/leukotriene pathway is believed to be a pathogenic factor in development of fibrosis, so the inhibitory effects demonstrated by tipelukast may be a novel treatment approach.”