Triple attack on lung scarring: could plasma exchange and immune therapy slow IPF?

NCT ID NCT07674745

Not yet recruiting Disease control Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This Phase II trial tests whether a combination of therapeutic plasma exchange (filtering the blood), rituximab (a drug that targets certain immune cells), and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can slow lung decline in people with progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study enrolls 52 adults aged 40–85 with worsening IPF. Participants receive either this triple therapy plus usual care, or usual care alone, and researchers track changes in lung function, oxygen needs, and walking distance over time.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: therapeutic plasma exchange, rituximab, and intravenous immunoglobulin
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could offer a new way to slow lung function decline in people with progressive IPF, potentially delaying the need for oxygen or transplant.
What could go wrong: This is a mid-stage trial with only 52 participants, so results may not apply to all IPF patients. The treatment involves multiple procedures and carries risks like infection or allergic reactions.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Disease Progression idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Loyola University

Chicago, Illinois, 60153, United States
Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, United States
Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35216, United States
University of Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas, 60611, United States
University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States
University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 60611, United States
University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132, United States

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