Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (often referred to as IPF) is a condition characterized by pulmonary hypertension, in which the lungs become scarred, and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. Patients develop a chronic, progressive and irreversible decline in lung function.
The term ‘idiopathic’ indicates that there is no clear indication of what causes the scarring. IPF affects about five million people around the world. The disease is usually diagnosed primarily in people in their 60s and 70s at an annual rate of about 12 per 100,000. It occurs more often in males than in females. The average life expectancy following diagnosis is around four years.
There is currently no cure for the condition. The main treatment is via the drug Ofev, which is designed to slow the rate of lung function decline in patients with systemic sclerosis associated with interstitial lung disease. In that sense, while Ofev does not cure IPF, it is effective in increasing life expectancy and improving survival rates and quality of life.
The generic product known as nintedanib, marketed in the USA as the drug Ofev, is produced by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. It is designed to slow the rate of decline in the condition.
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