This week brought encouraging signs that combining several targeted drugs — plus a diabetes pill — might meaningfully slow IPF scarring and protect lung function.
FVC = how much air your lungs can push out. Higher % = healthier lungs. A typical IPF patient starts around 50–60%.
This is a computer model result — not a prescription. Always talk to your doctor before changing anything.
Researchers published a study this week showing that metformin — a common, inexpensive diabetes pill — combined with nintedanib (one of the two main approved IPF drugs) helped reduce lung scarring in mice that had radiation damage. That's exciting because metformin is already widely used and considered very safe. It doesn't mean you should add it yourself, but it gives scientists a new direction to study in people. The database now holds 3,667 IPF papers and 1,144 clinical trials — meaning many doors are being pushed open at once.
The AI drug-combination tool tested hundreds of possible treatment mixes. The top result kept lung capacity (FVC — a measure of how much air your lungs can hold) at 96.2%. Healthy lungs sit around 100%, so 96.2% is very close to normal. The winning combo used seven drugs together, including pamrevlumab and several agents that calm overactive scar-forming signals in the lungs.
One question to ask your lung doctor at your next visit: 'Have you seen any new trial results on combining metformin with my current IPF medication, and could that be relevant for me?'