Lung fibrosis is a progressive, deadly condition for which there is no therapy. A recent clinical trial (N. Engl. J. Med. 365, 1079–1087) with a broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor reports encouraging results for people with this disease.

Luca Richeldi et al. tested the efficacy and safety of BIBF 1120, a molecule that inhibits several members of the vascular endothelial, platelet-derived and fibroblast growth factor receptor families, in a phase 2, 12-month trial in 432 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. They found that, in people receiving the highest dose of the drug (150 mg twice a day), the rate of decline in lung function decreased by nearly 70%. Similarly, there were fewer acute exacerbations of the disease in these patients compared with the placebo group.

Unfortunately, the incidence of gastrointestinal and hepatic side effects that led to discontinuation of the treatment was also more frequent for the group receiving the highest dose of the compound. The evidence of this molecule's efficacy is nevertheless heartening, as it shows that tyrosine kinase receptor inhibition may indeed be an effective therapeutic strategy against lung fibrosis. This study should therefore fuel the search for safer broad-spectrum antagonists as potential fibrosis therapeutics.