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Interferon No Help in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis do not benefit from treatment with interferon gamma-1b, according to a Lancet study released online.
Researchers randomized some 800 patients with mild-to-moderate disease in an international, double-blind trial sponsored, designed, and conducted in part by the manufacturer. Patients received thrice-weekly doses of either interferon or placebo.
After a median treatment of some 15 months, the trial was stopped when it became apparent that there was no survival benefit with interferon treatment.
The authors write that their results "conclusively refute the findings that interferon gamma-1b improves survival" in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. An editorialist says the results "should be regarded as definite."
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Lancet article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
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Published in Physician's First Watch June 30, 2009
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