FDA Approves Two Drugs for IPF

Oct. 20, 2014

The U.S. FDA approved both Ofev and Esbriet for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs become progressively scarred over time. As a result, patients with IPF experience shortness of breath, cough and have difficulty participating in everyday physical activities. Current treatments for IPF include oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and lung transplant.

“Today’s Ofev approval expands the available treatment options for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious, chronic condition,” said Mary H. Parks, M.D., deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Providing health care professionals and patients with additional treatment options helps enable appropriate care decisions based on a patient’s need.”

“Esbriet provides a new treatment option for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious, chronic lung disease,” said Curtis J. Rosebraugh, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We continue to help advance medication therapies by approving products that treat conditions that impact public health.”

The FDA granted Ofev and Esbriet fast track, priority review, orphan product, and breakthrough designations. Ofev is being approved ahead of the product’s prescription drug user fee goal date of Jan. 2, 2015, the date the agency was scheduled to complete the review of the drug application. Esbriet is being approved ahead of the product’s prescription drug user fee goal date of Nov. 23, 2014.

Read the Ofev release

Read the Esbriet release