molecules of the month

This month’s cover molecule, BMS-986278, is an LPA1 antagonist and oral (up to 125 mg BID) Ph. II clinical candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (NCT04308681). Reviewer and nominator Christian Kuttruff says: “While there are two approved molecules for the treatment of IPF (pirfenidone from Roche and nintedanib from BI), there is still a significant medical need for IPF/PF-ILD patients. Alongside current Phase III assets targeting IPF (Fibrogen’s pamrevlumab, Roche’s pentraxin and United Therapeutics’ teprostinil), this BMS LPAR1 antagonist is a promising compound in development for IPF due to the fact that their previous frontrunner molecule (BMS-986020) showed promising proof-of-efficacy in a 6 month Ph. II trial in IPF patients, slowing the decline of FVC by 69% vs. placebo. BMS-986020’s trial was stopped due…