This month PureTech announced that the phase 2b clinical trial, ELEVATE IPF, met its primary endpoint and key secondary endpoints. A primary endpoint is the measurement that researchers use to determine if a medication or other intervention works as intended. In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) studies, forced vital capacity (FVC) is the primary endpoint. FVC is the amount of air that comes out when a patient takes a deep breath, then blows out as hard as possible, and it is the measurement obtained when a patient completes a spirometry test (e.g., pulmonary function test).

In the ELEVATE IPF trial, two differing doses of the active medication were assessed against the placebo (i.e., non-active pills). At 26 weeks those who had received the larger dose of the active medication in development had less lung function decline than those who received the placebo.

The trial achieving its endpoint marks a significant development in advancing care for patients living with IPF and demonstrates the importance of research studies which support the development of improved therapies for pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease (ILD). To learn more about clinical trials, review the PFF’s clinical trial guide and the PFF’s pulmonary function tests guide.