A new five-year, $18 million Department of Defense-funded clinical trial will investigate the potential of metformin — a medication commonly prescribed for diabetes — in managing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). If left untreated, IPF has a median survival of just three to five years after diagnosis.
The groundbreaking study is taking place thanks to a unique partnership among the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF).
“Data indicates that IPF is more prevalent among veterans than their civilian counterparts,” said Bhavika Kaul, MD, MAS, the VA lead for the study, in a press release. “By combining the resources of the VA, DOD and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, we can provide veterans with unprecedented access to clinical trials, paving the way for future advancements in care.”
Dr. Kaul is a pulmonologist researcher at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston and a physician-investigator at the VA Center for Innovation in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety.
The study will integrate approximately 45 pulmonary fibrosis care centers with 10 VA medical centers nationwide, creating a robust clinical trial network. This network aims to bridge care gaps and ensure that veterans receive access to cutting-edge treatments and research.
IPF, which is one of more than 200 types of pulmonary fibrosis, affects one in 200 adults over the age of 70 in the United States. Currently, more than 250,000 Americans live with pulmonary fibrosis, and around 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Tragically, as many as 40,000 Americans die from IPF annually. According to the VA, veterans are particularly at risk, due to their age and cumulative exposures, and have historically been underrepresented in clinical trials.
This clinical trial will be led by Fernando Martinez, MD, MS, who is the Joseph D. Early Chair in Biomedical Research, professor of medicine, vice chair for clinical and translational research and academic chief of the division of pulmonary, allergy and critical care at UMass Chan Medical School. The study aims to screen 800 patients, focusing on 400 high-risk individuals who will be randomly assigned to receive either metformin or a placebo.
“Metformin has shown promise in treating IPF and is being studied for various indications due to its believed anti-aging properties,” Dr. Martinez said. “This DOD grant targets IPF, a devastating disease, and establishes a partnership between the VA, DOD and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation that we can leverage for future IPF research. It truly is a win-win for everyone involved.”
Key institutions participating in the study include Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, University of Michigan, Mass General Brigham, Weill Cornell Medicine, Mayo Clinic, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, University of Southern California, University of Washington, Temple University, Tulane University and the University of North Carolina. Enrollment in the study is expected to begin in early 2026.
