Methods of treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
The present invention provides methods of treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); methods of increasing survival time in an individual with IPF; and methods of reducing risk of death in an individual with IPF. The methods generally involve administering a therapeutically effective amount of IFN-γ to an individual with IPF.
1 . A method of treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in an individual, the method comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of IFN-γ
wherein the individual has a forced vital capacity (FVC) that is at least about 55% of the normal predicted value.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises administering a corticosteroid to the individual.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the probability of survival of the individual is at least about 10% greater than an expected probability of survival without administration of IFN-γ.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the probability of survival of the individual is at least about 15% greater than an expected probability of survival without administration of IFN-γ.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the risk of death of the individual is at least two-fold less than an expected risk of death without administration of IFN-γ.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the risk of death of the individual is at least four-fold less than an expected risk of death without administration of IFN-γ.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 80 μg/m 2 to about 90 μg/m 2 .
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 200 μg.
9 . The method of claim 7 or 8 , wherein IFN-γ is administered three times weekly.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein IFN-γ is administered by subcutaneous administration.
11 . A method for increasing probability of survival of an individual having idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the method comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of IFN-γ
wherein the individual has a forced vital capacity (FVC) that is at least about 55% of the normal predicted value.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises administering a corticosteroid to the individual.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the probability of survival of the individual is at least about 10% greater than an expected probability of survival without administration of IFN-γ.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the probability of survival of the individual is at least about 15% greater than an expected probability of survival without administration of IFN-γ.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 80 μg/m 2 to about 90 g/m 2 .
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 200 μg.
17 . The method of claim 15 or 16 , wherein IFN-γ is administered three times weekly.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein IFN-γ is administered by subcutaneous administration.
19 . A method of reducing the risk of death of an individual having idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in an individual, the method comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of IFN-γ
wherein the individual has a forced vital capacity (FVC) that is at least about 55% of the normal predicted value.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises administering a corticosteroid to the individual.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the risk of death of the individual is at least two-fold less than an expected risk of death without administration of IFN-γ.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the risk of death of the individual is at least four-fold less than an expected risk of death without administration of IFN-γ.
23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 80 μg/m 2 to about 90 g/m 2 .
24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 200 μg.
25 . The method of claim 23 or 24 , wherein IFN-γ is administered three times weekly.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein IFN-γ is administered by subcutaneous administration.
27 . A method of treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) ascertaining that the individual has a forced vital capacity (FVC) of at least about 55% of the normal predicted value; and
(b) administering to the individual an effective amount of IFN-γ.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the probability of survival of the individual is at least about 10% greater than an expected probability of survival without administration of IFN-γ.
29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the probability of survival of the individual is at least about 15% greater than an expected probability of survival without administration of IFN-γ.
30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the risk of death of the individual is at least about two-fold less than an expected risk of death without administration of IFN-γ.
31 . The method of claim 27 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 80 μg/m 2 to about 90 μg/m 2 .
32 . The method of claim 27 , wherein IFN-γ is administered in a dose of about 200 μg.
33 . The method of claim 31 or 32 , wherein IFN-γ is administered three times weekly.
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein IFN-γ is administered by subcutaneous injection.
35 . The method of any of claims 1 - 34 , wherein the individual is a human.