Weill Cornell Medical College

 

 

 

 

The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College is a designated site in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) clinical research network. Our clinicians have extensive experience with interstitial lung diseases, including IPF. We are currently enrolling volunteers with IPF in two clinical trials:

PANTHER Study  (Prednisone, Azathioprine, and N-acetylcysteine: A Study That Evaluates Response in IPF)

SPONSOR: IPFnet/NIH

STUDY DESCRIPTION : The purpose of the PANTHER study is to find out how effective the drug N-acetylcysteine (NAC), alone and in combination with prednisone and azathioprine, is at preventing the loss of lung function in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Most people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis take prednisone, a corticosteroid medication that helps reduce inflammation, and azathioprine, an immune-suppression medication, to slow the fibrous growth and scar-forming process of IPF. NAC, an antioxidant that is effective at loosening up mucus that forms in the lungs, may improve lung function. Adding NAC to the standard treatment regimen of prednisone and azathioprine may be beneficial to people with IPF.

This study will enroll people with mild to moderate IPF. Study volunteers will be randomly assigned to receive, for 60 weeks, either:

• Combination treatment with prednisone, azathioprine and NAC
• NAC alone
• or placebo (an inactive pill that has no treatment value, to use as a comparison)

Study visits will occur at baseline (study entry) and weeks 4, 15, 30, 45 and 60. Volunteers will be asked to record medication usage and symptoms in a daily diary. Volunteers will be reimbursed a maximum of $250 per visit for study travel expenses relating to mileage, commercial air or ground travel, hotel costs, meals and parking fees after providing travel receipts to the study coordinator.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Men and women ages 35–85
• Diagnosed with IPF within the past 48 months (4 years)
  

More detailed eligibility requirements will be discussed with you when contact the study team. 

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Robert Kaner, MD

CONTACT: Vanessa Canas, RN
646-962-4508
[email protected]

 

ACE-IPF Study (AntiCoagulant Effectiveness in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis)

SPONSOR: IPFnet/NIH

STUDY DESCRIPTION : The ACE-IPF study tests the safety and effectiveness of the drug warfarin in patients with IPF. Study volunteers will be randomized to warfarin or placebo. Study visits will occur at baseline (study entry), and weeks 1, 16, 32, 48 and 54. Volunteers will be reimbursed a maximum of $250 per visit for study travel expenses relating to mileage, commercial air or ground travel, hotel costs, meals and parking fees after providing travel receipts to the study coordinator.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Men and women ages 35–80
• Diagnosis of IPF
• Progression of disease despite conventional therapy (standard of care treatment)
  

More detailed eligibility requirements will be discussed with you when contact the study team.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Robert Kaner, MD

CONTACT: Vanessa Canas, RN

646-962-4508

[email protected]

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