Improving Patient Outcomes in Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Diseases: Clinical and Managed Care Perspectives on the Evolving Landscape

Program Description

Fibrosing interstitial lung disease (F-ILD) encompasses a number of conditions characterized by common features, including fibrotic lung tissue, chronic cough, and breathlessness. The two primary categories are idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common form, and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), such as chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis or connective tissue disease. These diseases both have poor clinical prognoses and represent a major clinical challenge because the loss of lung function is irreversible, leading to severe disability, high morbidity, and mortality. The current goal of therapy with antifibrotics is to slow disease progression rather than reverse existing damage, but gaps in care persist due to diagnostic delays and high discontinuation rates. New therapies under investigation have demonstrated the potential to provide options with novel mechanisms of action and potentially fewer systemic adverse effects. This session will detail the pathophysiology and clinical burden of F-ILDs, while differentiating between IPF and PPF. Clinical experts will present recent data for approved and late-stage emerging therapies alongside evidence-based guidelines that prioritize early treatment initiation. Additionally, the session will focus on strategies managed care professionals and pharmacists can apply to address the economic burden and access barriers of F-ILDs. As clinical data for these emerging therapies continues to become available, managed care professionals and pharmacists must ensure that formulary placement and prior authorization criteria are aligned with the latest evidence.

Target audience: Managed care pharmacists
Type of activity: Foundational
Release date: April 30, 2026
Expiration date: April 30, 2027
Learner level: Foundational
Time to complete activity: 1.5 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explain the pathophysiology and clinical burden of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (F-ILDs), differentiating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) from progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).
• Interpret recent clinical data for currently approved and emerging antifibrotic pharmacologic therapies for F-ILDs to compare their potential impact on clinical care.
• Apply best practices and evolving treatment guidelines to facilitate evidence-based management for patients with F-ILDs.
• Illustrate the clinical, financial, and treatment burden of F-ILDs and how managed care professionals can support appropriate access to timely interventions to mitigate these challenges.