As ERS 2025 opens on September 27th, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is poised to take the spotlight, reflecting both the urgent unmet need and the rapidly diversifying research landscape in this relentless disease. With around 97,000 diagnosed prevalent cases in the United States alone in 2024, according to DelveInsight estimates, IPF continues to represent a feared complication of respiratory illness. Its cause remains elusive, pathogenic mechanisms are only partially understood, and survival outcomes remain poor despite available antifibrotics. Yet, the epidemiological trend points upward—diagnosis rates are increasing in the US and globally, suggesting both heightened recognition and potentially post-infectious drivers. Against this backdrop, the data going to unveil at ERS 2025 is expected to underscore a decisive shift: the field is evolving beyond incremental antifibrotic improvements toward disease-modifying, biomarker-informed, and precision-driven approaches.

The clinical trial abstracts to be presented at ERS reflect two major dynamics shaping the IPF pipeline. First, novel therapies are entering with mechanisms that break from the legacy mold. MTX-463, a monoclonal antibody targeting WISP, and PMG1015, which delivered favorable FVC changes after only 12 weeks, bring immuno-fibrotic modulation into play. Deupirfenidone (LYT-100) showed durable efficacy in the Phase IIb ELEVATE extension, directly positioning itself as a next-generation alternative to pirfenidone. Meanwhile, buloxibutid, an angiotensin II type 2 receptor agonist, and admilparant, which integrates plasma proteomic analysis into its trial design, demonstrate how the competitive race is diversifying into receptor biology, pathway modulation, and biomarker-guided care. This wave of innovation highlights a strategic shift: while large pharma continues to explore reformulations and life-cycle extensions, smaller biotech entrants are challenging paradigms by embedding precision medicine into IPF drug development.

Second, diagnostic and biomarker science is rapidly gaining prominence, often with equal weight to therapeutics. Abstracts linking tissue turnover biomarkers with lung function and exercise capacity, along with proteomic profiling data from admilparant studies, underscore the potential for predictive signatures to redefine trial design and clinical management. These approaches are complemented by advances in imaging modalities, provisional diagnostic frameworks, and the growing use of cryobiopsy—all converging on earlier, more accurate detection. For a disease where delayed diagnosis directly translates into lost survival, these tools could shift IPF management from reactive stabilization to proactive, patient-tailored intervention.

Taken together, the ERS 2025 IPF program signals that the next chapter of progress will be defined not just by new molecules, but by the integration of biomarkers, functional predictors, and novel diagnostics into a coherent strategy. The emphasis is moving from slowing progression at late stages to detecting earlier, stratifying smarter, and treating more precisely—a transformation that could finally alter the trajectory of a disease long considered unyielding.

Key abstracts to be presented at ERS 2025 for IPF are listed in the table below: