What's Needed to Better Pulmonary Fibrosis Research

Mean pulmonary fibrosis (PF) patient age is approximately 60 years old; disease progression and pathophysiology is diverse; and, as discussed earlier in an interview with HCPLive, signs and symptoms are not well-interpreted by at-risk patients.

These factors and more could hinder the rate and makeup of clinical trials assessing promising therapies for the rate pulmonary disease. So what can be done to address the issue?

In the next segment of a continued discussion with HCPLive, Greg Cosgrove, MD, chief medical officer of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, discussed the necessary teamwork—from patients to physicians to organizations like his own—in bettering available research.

He also explained the value of patient participation in registry databases, like that used by the foundation.

“As I tell my patients, none of the efforts we have—the advantages and successes in the research space could happen without them participating,” he said.

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s another hurdle for patient at odds to clear.