Testing Lansoprazole in People With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Trial details

Who runs it

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Trial code

NCT04965298

Record updated

22 December 2025

Original description

IPF is a progressive scarring lung condition causing coughing and breathlessness. IPF patients often have reflux disease meaning stomach acid may be breathed into the lungs, potentially damaging them. Medicines which stop stomach acid production, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), can be used to reduce reflux symptoms including heartburn. Some researchers suggest PPIs also reduce IPF progression.Read full original descriptionShow less

The Effectiveness and Risks of Treating People With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis With the Addition of Lansoprazole: a Randomised Placebo-controlled Multi-centre Clinical Trial

IPF is a progressive scarring lung condition causing coughing and breathlessness. IPF patients often have reflux disease meaning stomach acid may be breathed into the lungs, potentially damaging them. Medicines which stop stomach acid production, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), can be used to reduce reflux symptoms including heartburn. Some researchers suggest PPIs also reduce IPF progression.

This research aims to see if IPF progresses slower if treated with PPIs. Based on the results, we will be able to recommend whether or not IPF patients should take PPIs.

This trial will involve 298 IPF patients from approximately 37 UK hospitals. At the beginning of the study, we will ask patients to start performing weekly breathing tests at home using equipment provided, and ask those with a cough to use a device to count the number of times they cough in 24hours. We will ask them to answer two questions rating their coughing and breathlessness, and complete questionnaires on their coughing, IPF, sleep habits and general condition. People will be given a PPI, called lansoprazole, or dummy tablets, twice per day for 12 months. They will be given a leaflet telling them what to do about reflux symptoms. At the end of the study, we will repeat these tests and analyse the results. We will record any side effects people may get. If people suffer side effects, they can reduce the dose.

People taking medicines that interact with PPIs or have other serious medical conditions won't be able to participate. People receiving PPIs will only be able to participate if they can stop taking their medication without their heartburn returning.

Inclusion: Male or female, aged greater than or equal to 40 years; A diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) based on local or regional multi-disciplinary consensus according to the latest international guidelines (50); Patients may be receiving licensed anti-fibrotic medication (for at least 4 weeks prior to randomisation with no planned amendments for at least 4 weeks post-randomisation); Able to provide informed consent; Additional Inclusion Criteria for cough count sub-study:; Pre-existing diagnosis of persistent cough (defined as troublesome for more than 8 weeks prior to study enrolment).

Exclusion: Concomitant use of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or prokinetic drugs (cisapride, domperidone, metoclopramide, erythromycin, prucalopride etc.) within 2 weeks prior to randomisation; Concomitant use of atazanavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, tacrolimus, methotrexate, fluvoxamine (see section 6.4.5); Females who are of childbearing potential or lactating. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high FSH level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient; Receipt of another investigational drug or biological agent associated with another clinical trial within the 4 weeks prior to TIPAL study enrolment or 5 times the drug half-life, whichever is the longer; Receiving long-term oxygen therapy; Patients with a self-reported respiratory tract infection within 4 weeks of screening (defined as two or more of: increased cough, sputum or breathlessness and requiring antimicrobial therapy); Significant co-existing respiratory disease (defined as a respiratory condition that exhibits a clinically relevant effect on respiratory symptoms and disease progression as determined by the PI). The presence of traction bronchiectasis is permitted; Known allergy to proton pump inhibitors or the contents of placebo; Significant medical, surgical or psychiatric disease that in the opinion of the patient's attending physician would affect subject safety or influence the study outcomes including liver failure (e.g. serum transaminase > 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN), Bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN (unless the patient has Gilbert's Syndrome) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) greater than stage 3 , erosive oesophagitis, Barrett's oesophagus or any condition requiring lifelong proton pump inhibitor use; Patients with hypomagnesemia (defined as magnesium ≤0.6 mmol/L); Patients unable to comply with study assessments including the ability to complete reliable spirometry assessments; Patients with an FEV1/FVC<0.7.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04965298