Lung Health Today: Covid Bacteria Clue Meets IPF Trial Drama

Scientists uncover fresh clues about lung health as lingering Covid symptoms are linked to changes in the bacteria in the mouth and lungs.

New research shows that Covid alters the lung and mouth microbiome in ways that track ongoing respiratory, cognitive, and gut symptoms.

At the same time, Bristol Myers Squibb’s experimental drug preserves lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, yet Syndax Pharmaceuticals ends development of its candidate after a mid-stage trial misses the main goal.

These developments highlight both emerging biological insights into lingering Covid effects and the high-stakes ups and downs of treatments that target progressive lung scarring.

Long Covid Leaves Clear Marks on Mouth and Lung Bacteria

Researchers at the University of Dundee examine 771 people treated for Covid-19 across 38 UK hospitals between February 2020 and March 2021.

They group participants by symptom severity five months after hospital discharge, ranging from very severe physical, mental, and cognitive impairments to mild cases with good recovery.

Six months after discharge, the team collects saliva and sputum samples and uses DNA sequencing to map the microbes present. People with the most severe long Covid symptoms show marked differences in their oral and lung microbiomes compared with those who recover well.

These microbiome shifts connect directly to reduced lung function, brain fog, memory and concentration difficulties, and gut problems such as pain, nausea, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite. An over-abundance of lactic-acid-producing bacteria also appears alongside signs of inflammation in blood samples.

Lead author Daniela Alferes de Lima Headley notes that prior work focused on the gut microbiome, yet Covid begins as a lung disease, so the lung microbiome offers a logical next target.

James Chalmers, Chair of Respiratory Research at the University of Dundee, adds that the worst symptoms five to six months after infection coincide with big changes in the mouth and lung microbiome, and that airway changes link not only to lung problems but also to broader symptoms.

Key findings include:

• Distinct oral and lung bacterial profiles in severe long Covid
• Clear ties between microbiome differences and respiratory, neurocognitive, and digestive symptoms
• Elevated lactic-acid bacteria linked to inflammation markers
• Potential new directions for understanding and treating long Covid

Also Read: How Deviation Trends Can Reveal Hidden Pharma Quality Risks

IPF Trials Deliver Success and Setback in One Day

Bristol Myers Squibb reports that a lower dose of its experimental drug admilparant meets the main goal of a late-stage trial in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• Trial size: 1,255 patients, evaluated over 52 weeks.
• Lower dose: 60 mg twice daily met the primary endpoint, significantly preserving lung function versus placebo.
• Higher dose: 120 mg twice daily failed to achieve statistical significance.
• Safety: Both doses were generally well tolerated, with low treatment discontinuation rates similar to placebo.
• Market reaction: Shares rose more than 6% in premarket trading.

In contrast, Syndax Pharmaceuticals stops development of its treatment for the same chronic lung-scarring disease after a mid-stage trial fails its primary endpoint.

• Trial design: Mid-stage study conducted over 26 weeks across 62 sites in 14 countries.
• Primary endpoint: Failed to reduce the annual rate of lung function decline versus placebo.
• Safety: Treatment was well tolerated, with no new safety concerns or treatment-related deaths.
• Development decision: Syndax discontinued development of the treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
• Other indications: The decision does not affect ongoing studies of Niktimvo (axatilimab) in chronic graft-versus-host disease, for which it has U.S. approval.
• Market reaction: Shares fell about 17% in extended trading.

The company reports that the treatment stays well tolerated with a safety profile comparable to placebo and no new safety concerns. No treatment-related deaths occur, and few patients stop therapy because of side effects.

Together, the microbiome discovery and the diverging IPF trial outcomes paint a vivid picture of lung health progress: new biological understanding of long Covid sits alongside both a promising late-stage success and a clear development halt.