New hope for lung scarring: buloxibutid trial underway
NCT ID NCT06588686
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 18, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tests an oral drug called buloxibutid in 378 people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a lung-scarring disease. Over 52 weeks, researchers compare two doses of buloxibutid against a placebo to see if it can slow lung function decline. The study is double-blind, meaning neither participants nor doctors know who gets the real drug.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- buloxibutid
- What this could lead to
- If successful, buloxibutid could offer a new oral treatment option to slow lung function decline in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 2 trial, so results are still early. The drug may not prove effective or safe over the long term, and side effects are possible.
Why investors are watching
Vicore Pharma Holding AB is a micro-cap company, and its subsidiary Vicore Pharma AB runs the ASPIRE trial, a Phase 2 study of the drug buloxibutid in 378 people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The trial tests two doses of the drug against a placebo over 52 weeks, with patients either taking it alone or with their current therapy. For a company this small, this single readout can determine whether its main drug candidate has a future.
If it works: If buloxibutid shows it slows the disease or improves lung function with an acceptable safety profile, Vicore could have a viable product to move into later-stage testing. That result would likely raise the company's profile and support further investment in the drug.
If it fails: Phase 2 trials in this disease often fail to show a clear benefit, and a negative or unclear result could set the program back years. A delay in enrollment or data readout would also strain a micro-cap company with limited resources.
AI-written from the trial record. Speculative, and not investment advice.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
378 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Dec 2024
- Expected to finish
-
Jun 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
40 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria 1. Age ≥ 40 years at the time of signing the informed consent. 2. Diagnosed with IPF within 7 years prior to visit 1, as per applicable ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT guidelines at the time of diagnosis. 3. HRCT scan within 36 months prior to visit 1 with central reading confirming either a or b, and c 1. A pattern consistent with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) according to ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2022 guideline (Raghu et al., 2022) UIP or probable UIP. 2. A pattern indeterminate for UIP according to ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2022 guidelines (Raghu et al., 2022) and a historical biopsy (surgical lung biopsy or transbronchial lung cryobiopsy) consistent with IPF. 3. Extent of fibrosis \> extent of emphysema. 4. FVC ≥50% predicted at visit 1. 5. DLCO (corrected for hemoglobin) ≥30% predicted at visit 1. 6. Either: 1. On a stable dose of licensed IPF therapy for at least 8 weeks prior to visit 1 and expected to remain on this background treatment after randomization. Due to the risk of DDIs, concomitant treatment with pirfenidone is not allowed in this trial. 2. Not currently receiving treatment for IPF with a licensed therapy for any reason, including prior intolerance, non-responsiveness, ineligibility, lack of access or voluntarily decline. Any such previous treatment must have been discontinued \>8 weeks prior to visit 1. 7. Anticipated life expectancy of at least 12 months at visit 1 and not anticipated to require a lung transplant during the trial period (being on a transplant list does not exclude a participant from the trial). 8. Contraceptive use by women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) which is highly effective and consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical trials. For UK and countries within the EU: Male participants, if heterosexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential, or a pregnant or breastfeeding partner, must agree to use barrier contraception (male condom) and abstain from sperm donation for the duration of the treatment period and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose of the trial drug. 9. Written informed consent, consistent with ICH-GCP and local laws, obtained before the initiation of any trial-related procedure. Exclusion Criteria Participants are excluded from the trial if any of the following criteria apply: 1. Concurrent serious medical condition that in the opinion of the investigator constitutes a risk or a contraindication for participation in the trial or that could interfere with the trial objectives, conduct or evaluation, including active or suspected malignancy or history of malignancy within 5 years prior to visit 1, except appropriately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin, fully resected and cured squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, "under surveillance" prostate cancer or in situ carcinoma of uterine cervix. 2. Airways obstruction with a pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/FVC ratio \<0.7 at visit 1. 3. Lower respiratory tract infection requiring antibiotics and not fully recovered according to investigator judgement within 4 weeks prior to visit 2. 4. Confirmed infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requiring hospitalization and not fully recovered according to investigator judgement within 4 weeks prior to visit 2. 5. Known impaired hepatic function or clinically significant liver disease (Child-Pugh B or C hepatic impairment), or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) or total bilirubin \>1.5 times ULN at visit 1. 6. Severe renal impairment (i.e., estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤35 ml/min/1.73 m2 at visit 1 according to Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration \[CKD-EPI\] formula). 7. Prolonged QTcF (QT interval with Fridericia's correction) (\>450 ms), AV-block II or III, uncontrolled arrhythmia, or other clinically significant abnormality in the resting ECG at visit 1, as judged by the investigator. Patients with implantable cardiovascular devices (e.g. pacemaker) affecting the QT interval time may be enrolled in the trial based upon investigator judgement, following cardiologist consultation if deemed necessary, and only after discussion with the medical monitor. 8. Heart failure NYHA Class IV, acutely decompensated right heart failure, PH with syncopal episode, confirmed myocardial infarction, unstable angina or uncontrolled hypertension, within 6 months prior to visit 1. 9. Known hypersensitivity or intolerance to buloxibutid or to any other components of the test product, including excipients. 10. Pregnant or breast-feeding female participants. 11. Acute IPF exacerbation within 3 months prior to visit 1 and/or during the screening period, as defined by Collard et al., 2016: 1. Acute worsening or development of dyspnea typically \<1 month duration. 2. Computed tomography with new bilateral ground-glass opacity and/or consolidation superimposed on a background pattern consistent with usual interstitial pneumonia pattern (if no previous computed tomography is available, the qualifier "new" can be dropped). 3. Deterioration not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload. 12. Inability to generate a spirometry test at visit 1 meeting the standards of the ATS/ERS 2019 guideline (Graham et al., 2019). 13. Treatment with pirfenidone within 8 weeks prior to visit 1 or anticipated need for pirfenidone during participation in the trial. More exclusion criteria may apply. Trial website: www.aspire-ipf.com
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
"Sotiria" Chest Diseases Hospital of Athens
Athens, 11527, Greece
-
Allergology- Pulmunology Outpatient Clinic Alergopneuma, Pulmonology Outpatient Clinic
Świdnik, 21-040, Poland
-
Asan Medical Center
Seoul, 05505, South Korea
-
Austin Hospital
Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
-
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
Dallas, Texas, 75246, United States
-
Belgrano Clinical Research Center
Buenos Aires, C1028AAP, Argentina
-
Breathe Comprehensive Clinical Health
Godoy Cruz, 5501, Argentina
-
CEMER Medical Center for Respiratory Diseases
Buenos Aires, 1602, Argentina
-
CINME - Metabolic Research Center
Buenos Aires, C1056ABI, Argentina
-
China Medical University Hospital
Taichung, 404327, Taiwan
-
Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, Department of Pulmonary Medicine
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
-
Clinical Research Centre Respiratory Medicine
Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, 60596, Germany
-
Clinical Research Specialists
Kissimmee, Florida, 34746, United States
-
Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine
Concord, NSW 2139, Australia
-
Diex Research Trois-Riviere Inc.
Trois-Rivières, Quebec, G9A 4P3, Canada
-
Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez Monterrey University Hospital
Monterrey, Nuevo León, 64460, Mexico
-
El Paso Pulmonary Association
El Paso, Texas, 79902, United States
-
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, 30342, United States
-
Emphysema Foundation, Pneumology
Mar del Plata, 7600, Argentina
-
Endeavor Health - Evanston Hospital
Evanston, Illinois, 60201, United States
-
Erasme Hospital
Brussels, 1070, Belgium
-
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
New Taipei City, 220, Taiwan
-
Flinders Medical Centre
Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
-
Foundation PTV - Polyclinic Tor Vergata
Roma, 00133, Italy
-
General Hospital of Chest Diseases "Sotiria" 5th Pulmonology Department
Athens, 11527, Greece
-
General Hospital of Thessaloniki "G. Papanikolaou", University Department of Pulmonology
Thessaloniki, PC 57010, Greece
-
Guy's Hospital
London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
-
Hannover Medical School, Center for Internal Medicine
Hanover, Lower Saxony, 30625, Germany
-
Hanyang University - Myongji Hospital
Goyang-si, 10475, South Korea
-
Homerton University Hospital
London, E9 6SR, United Kingdom
-
Hospital Penzing, Department of Respiratory and lung diseases
Vienna, 1140, Austria
-
IMER Respiratory Medicine Institute
Córdoba, X5003DCE, Argentina
-
Ibamedica
Santa Fe, 3000, Argentina
-
Immenhausen Lung Hospital
Immenhausen, Hesse, 34 376, Germany
-
InJe University Busan Paik Hospital
Busan, 47392, South Korea
-
InJe University Haeundae Paik Hospital
Busan, 48108, South Korea
-
InnovaCiencia
Rosario, S2000, Argentina
-
Integral Health Medical Unit
San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, 66465, Mexico
-
Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Kaohsiung City, 833401, Taiwan
-
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
Kaohsiung City, 807377, Taiwan
-
Kelowna Respiratory & Allergy Clinic
Kelowna, British Columbia, V1W 1V3, Canada
-
Kepler University Hospital GmbH, Department of Pulmonology
Linz, Upper Austria, 4021, Austria
-
Korea University Anam Hospital
Seoul, 02841, South Korea
-
Local Healthcare Company Papa Giovanni XXIII (ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII)
Bergamo, 24127, Italy
-
Low Country Lung and Critical Care
North Charleston, South Carolina, 29406, United States
-
Lung Research Victoria
Footscray, Victoria, 3011, Australia
-
MICS Medical Centre Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz, 85-065, Poland
-
Medical Center Dra. De Salvo
Buenos Aires, C1426ABP, Argentina
-
National Institute of Respiratory Diseases Ismael Cosio Villegas (INER)
Mexico City, Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
-
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
Denver, Colorado, 80206, United States
-
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, 100225, Taiwan
-
Norbert Barlicki University Clinical Hospital in Lodz Departament of Pneumology and Allergy
Lodz, 90-153, Poland
-
Oaxaca Site Management Organization S.C - (Osmo)
Oaxaca City, 68000, Mexico
-
Oregon Clinic, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine East
Portland, Oregon, 97220, United States
-
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
-
Paradigm Clinical Research
San Diego, California, 92108, United States
-
Paradigm Clinical Research Centers, Inc.
Redding, California, 96001, United States
-
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Birmingham, B15 2TH, United Kingdom
-
Renown Clinical Research
Reno, Nevada, 89502, United States
-
Research Institute of Respiratory Diseases
San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán Province, 4000, Argentina
-
Royal Brompton Hospital
London, SW3 6NP, United Kingdom
-
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Exeter, EX2 5DW, United Kingdom
-
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
-
RuhrlandClinic - Lung Center
Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45122, Germany
-
Salzburg Regional Hospital, Department of Pneumology/Respiratory Medicine
Salzburg, 5020, Austria
-
Samsung Medical Center
Seoul, 06351, South Korea
-
San Gerardo of Tintori IRCCS Foundation
Monza, 20900, Italy
-
Seoul National University Hospital
Seoul, 03080, South Korea
-
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System
Seoul, 03722, South Korea
-
Soon Chun Hyang Central Medical Center
Bucheon-si, 14584, South Korea
-
Southeastern Research Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103, United States
-
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney Ltd.
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
-
Summit Health - Bend
Bend, Oregon, 97201, United States
-
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Taipei, 112201, Taiwan
-
Temple University Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, United States
-
The Catholic University Of Korea Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital
Bucheon-si, 14647, South Korea
-
The Prince Charles Hospital
Brisbane, QLD 4032, Australia
-
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Woodville, SA 5011, Australia
-
Townsville University Hospital
Douglas, QLD 4814, Australia
-
Twoja Przychodnia Medical Centre of Nowa Sol
Nowa Sól, 67-100, Poland
-
UAB Hospital, School of Medicine/Lung Health Center
Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
-
UC Davis Health System
Sacramento, California, 95816, United States
-
UC San Diego Medical Center - Hillcrest
San Diego, California, 92103, United States
-
UCL Mont-Godinne University Hospitals
Yvoir, 5530, Belgium
-
University General Hospital "Attikon", 2nd Pulmonary Department
Athens, PC 12462, Greece
-
University General Hospital of Heraklion, Pneumonology Clinic
Heraklion, Crete, 715 00, Greece
-
University General Hospital of Ioannina
Ioannina, 45500, Greece
-
University General Hospital of Patras
Pátrai, 26504, Greece
-
University Hospital - Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I - GM Lancisi - G Salesi of Ancona
Ancona, 60126, Italy
-
University Hospital Center Sart-Tilman
Liège, 4000, Belgium
-
University Hospital City of Health and Science of Turin - Hospital Molinette
Turin, 10126, Italy
-
University Hospital Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Wurttemberg, 79106, Germany
-
University Hospital Heidelberg, Clinic of Thoracic Medicine Heidelberg GmbH
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, 69126, Germany
-
University Hospital Tuebingen
Tübingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, 72076, Germany
-
University Hospitals Saint-Luc
Brussels, 1200, Belgium
-
University of Florida Health (UF Health)
Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
-
University of Utah, Health Sciences Center
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States
-
University of Wisconsin Clinical Science Center
Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
-
VITAMED Galaj i Cichomski General Partnership
Bydgoszcz, 85-079, Poland
-
Vistalba Health Center
Mendoza, 5509, Argentina
-
Vivantes Hospital Neukoelln
Berlin, 12351, Germany
-
William Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak
Royal Oak, Michigan, 48073, United States
-
Wythenshawe Hospital
Manchester, M23 9LT, United Kingdom
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Sharper CT scans may solve a lung disease diagnostic puzzle
- Can a new daily pill slow lung scarring in IPF?
- Which finger or earlobe? a study tests the best spot for oxygen monitoring in lung disease
- Can a new drug slow lung scarring in IPF?
- Blood tests could unlock early clues for three major lung diseases
- AI could uncover hidden lung disease in routine chest X-Rays