Table of Contents
- What is Nerandomilast?
- What Conditions Does Nerandomilast Treat?
- How Nerandomilast Works
- How Nerandomilast is Administered
- Current Clinical Research
- Drug Interactions
- Effects of Food on Nerandomilast
- How Effectiveness is Measured
What is Nerandomilast?
Nerandomilast (also known as BI 1015550) is an investigational medication being studied for the treatment of lung fibrosis related to autoimmune rheumatic diseases[1]. It is currently undergoing clinical trials to evaluate its safety and effectiveness. As an investigational drug, it has not yet received full approval from regulatory agencies for widespread use, but the ongoing research aims to determine if it can help patients with specific lung conditions.
What Conditions Does Nerandomilast Treat?
Nerandomilast is being studied primarily for the treatment of Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Associated Interstitial Lung Diseases (SARD-ILD)[1]. This includes lung fibrosis (scarring) that develops as a complication of rheumatic diseases. Specifically, it is being investigated for:
- Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) – a group of disorders that cause scarring of lung tissue, making breathing difficult
- Interstitial Lung Disease secondary to Systemic Sclerosis (also known as scleroderma) – where lung scarring occurs as a complication of this autoimmune disease[5]
These conditions typically affect adults and can significantly impact quality of life by causing symptoms like shortness of breath, cough, and fatigue. Nerandomilast is being studied in patients who haven’t shown improvement with standard immunosuppressant treatments[1].
How Nerandomilast Works
While the specific mechanism isn’t fully detailed in the clinical trial information, Nerandomilast appears to target the underlying processes involved in lung fibrosis. The medication is being studied for its potential to:
- Reduce lung scarring and inflammation
- Improve lung function in patients with rheumatic disease-related lung conditions
- Work alongside existing immunosuppressant treatments for the underlying rheumatic disease[1]
The ongoing clinical trials are designed to measure how effectively Nerandomilast can slow or reduce the progression of lung damage compared to placebo (inactive treatment).
How Nerandomilast is Administered
Based on the clinical trial information, Nerandomilast is administered as:
In the main clinical study for SARD-ILD, participants take the medication twice daily for 26 weeks (about 6 months)[1]. Different formulations of the tablets are also being tested to determine the best way to administer the medication[4].
Current Clinical Research
Nerandomilast is currently being studied in several clinical trials:
- SARD-ILD Study: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness and safety of Nerandomilast over 26 weeks in patients with lung fibrosis related to autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either Nerandomilast or a placebo while continuing their standard immunosuppressant treatments[1].
- Platform Clinical Study for Conquering Scleroderma: A multicenter study evaluating various investigational products, including Nerandomilast, for interstitial lung disease secondary to systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). This study will follow participants for 52 weeks to evaluate changes in lung function[5].
- Formulation and Food Effect Studies: Research examining different tablet formulations of Nerandomilast and how food might affect how the body absorbs and processes the medication[4].
- Drug Interaction Studies: Investigations into how Nerandomilast interacts with other medications like bosentan and carbamazepine[2][3].
These clinical trials involve various assessments, including lung function tests, chest imaging, and questionnaires about symptoms and quality of life, to determine if Nerandomilast is effective and safe.
Drug Interactions
Researchers are studying how Nerandomilast interacts with other medications. Specific studies include:
- Bosentan: A study is investigating how bosentan (a moderate Cytochrome P450 3A inducer) affects the pharmacokinetics (how the body processes the drug) of Nerandomilast[2].
- Carbamazepine: Another study is looking at how carbamazepine might influence the amount of Nerandomilast in the blood[3].
These studies are important because they help researchers understand potential drug interactions that could affect how Nerandomilast works in patients who may be taking multiple medications.
Effects of Food on Nerandomilast
Researchers are also studying whether taking Nerandomilast with or without food affects how the body absorbs and processes the medication. A specific trial is comparing different formulations of Nerandomilast tablets when taken with and without food[4]. This information will help determine the best instructions for patients on when to take the medication in relation to meals.
How Effectiveness is Measured
In the clinical trials, researchers are measuring the effectiveness of Nerandomilast in several ways:
- Quantitative Interstitial Lung Disease (QILD) score: Measures the extent of lung fibrosis using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. This includes measuring:
- Quantitative Lung Fibrosis (QLF): A measure of reticulation with architectural distortion in the lungs
- Quantitative Ground Glass Opacity (QGGO): A measure of hazy or cloudy areas within the lung
- Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): A lung function test that measures the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after taking a deep breath. Improvements or stabilization in FVC would suggest the medication is helping[1][5].
- Patient-reported outcomes: Using questionnaires like the Living with Pulmonary Fibrosis (L-PF) to assess symptoms such as:
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Quality of life
- Safety assessments: Monitoring for adverse events, including infection-related adverse events[1].
For the scleroderma-specific study, researchers are also looking at the revised CRISS score (Composite Response Index in Systemic Sclerosis) to evaluate overall improvement in participants with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis[5].


