Pulmonary

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting HIF1A could help treat acute lung injury (ALI). Levels of HIF1A in lung tissue samples from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and a mouse model of influenza infection-induced lung damage were higher than in normal lung tissues from healthy volunteers or the lungs of normal mice. In the mouse model of influenza-induced ALI, systemic epithelial knockout of HIF1A increased arterial oxygen saturation in the neck and decreased interstitial and/or alveolar edema compared with normal expression. Next steps could include identifying and testing HIF1A inhibitors in other ALI models.

Bayer AG and Amgen Inc. have the HIF1A inhibitor BAY 87-2243 in Phase I testing to treat cancer...