Emerging Inhaled IPF Therapies Show Promise: Steven D. Nathan, MD

Captions are auto-generated.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a difficult disease to diagnose, as many of the associated symptoms overlap with those of other interstitial lung diseases, such as shortness of breath or velcro crackling, making multidisciplinary care essential. Further, once diagnosed, available therapies are still limited. However, an emerging therapy promises to broaden the treatment landscape and pioneer a new era of therapies for IPF, said Steven D. Nathan, MD, Schar Chair of advanced lung disease and lung transplant and medical director of the advanced lung disease and lung transplant program, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular, in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®).

Inhaled treprostinil (Tyvaso; United Therapeutics) showed significant and efficacious outcomes in patients with IPF in the pooled analysis from the TETON-1 (NCT04708782) and TETON-2 (NCT05255991) phase 3 trials assessing safety and efficacy. Should the FDA approve the pharmaceutical company’s new drug application, it would address a gap in current therapies for IPF: direct lung delivery.¹

“I think this further opens the door for other inhaled therapies,” Nathan said. “I feel like we haven't taken enough advantage of the inhaled route for patients with fibrotic lung disease, and there are other drugs in various stages of development that are being given via the inhaled route.”

Nathan, a moderator for the Washington, DC, Pop Health Roundtable discussion focused on interstitial lung diseases, hosted by AJMC, also addressed the importance and logic of using antifibrotics to stabilize fibrosis in other non-IPF interstitial lung diseases. Other panelists’ sentiments during the discussion echoed how and when antifibrotics should be considered and underscored the value of weighing patient-reported outcomes in addition to forced vital capacity.

“I think it's an interesting time and an exciting time for patients in particular who can benefit from these various different options,” Nathan said.

Reference

1. McCrear S. United Therapeutics plans FDA submission for inhaled treprostinil in IPF. AJMC. June 16, 2026. Accessed August 4, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/united-therapeutics-plans-fda-submission-for-inhaled-treprostinil-in-ipf