Research Opportunity: A clinical trial for patients with chronic cough caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

Study logo of lungs with a hand wrapped around them
18
June 2022

Many patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis experience a troublesome cough. Treatment options are limited and clinical trials investigating better options are needed.

Recruitment for taking part in the study is now closed

The IPF COMFORT study is investigating whether a study drug called orvepitant can reduce the burden of cough in people diagnosed with IPF.  The cough in IPF may be caused by the airways becoming oversensitive. The investigational drug being tested in the study may reduce this over-sensitivity.

The IPF COMFORT Study is one of several clinical trials currently recruiting participants in the UK.  You can search for all available trials using the European Pulmonary Fibrosis Federation (EU-IPFF) clinical trial finder or by searching on ClinicalTrials.gov.  

If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, you must speak to your clinical team.    

What is the IPF COMFORT Study?  

The purpose of the IPF COMFORT study is to see if orvepitant reduces the burden of coughing in people with IPF. The study will also test the safety of orvepitant and how the drug is absorbed and used within the body.  This is a Phase 2 clinical trial.

Can I take part?

You may be able to take part if you have a diagnosis of IPF, are aged 40 years and above, and have had a troublesome cough for at least 8 weeks, for which there is no other obvious cause.

In all clinical trials, there are lots of different reasons why you may or may not be able to take part.  These are known as inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only the clinical trial team will be able to fully determine whether you are able to take part in the study.

What is involved?

The study involves taking a study drug and a placebo tablet (tablets that look like orvepitant but contain no active drug) at different times during the trial.

  • The study will last no longer than 17 weeks.  An initial screening period will assess whether you can take part.
  • There are two treatment periods of 4 weeks each (with a three-week gap in between when no medication will be taken).
  • You will be asked to wear a cough monitoring device for 24 hours on three separate occasions.
  • You will be asked to complete a daily dairy.
  • There will be routine medical assessments and surveys to complete.
Where in the UK is this study taking place?

The study will be recruiting patients at multiple sites in the UK.  Sites in Liverpool, South Yorkshire, Leeds and Manchester have begun recruiting participants.  Check the study website for all currently recruiting sites. Patients who do not live locally to these sites may also be able to take part.

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information about this study, visit the study website.

More information about this study can also be found at ClinicalTrials.gov

You must discuss all aspects of your participation or interest in participating in a clinical trial with your medical team.

This post provides information about an opportunity to participate in research. More detailed information about the study can be found by following the links provided.  If you have any questions about the research study, please speak to your medical team and contact the researchers directly.  APF does not endorse or recommend any specific study.  All responsibility for the study remains with the sponsors and investigators.

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