A review on post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis and the role of nintedanib in its management

ABSTRACT

[...]the current evidence is limited and more evidence is awaited from the ongoing randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of nintedanib in the management of post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. Angiotensin II (1-10 amino acid long) has a number of profibrotic effects on lung parenchymal cells such as the induction of growth factors like TGF-ß1 for mesenchymal cells, ECM molecules, cytokines like IL-1, and increased motility of lung fibroblasts. [22] Antifibrotic Agent-Nintedanib Nintedanib, an indolinone derivative, also known by its developmental code BIBF1120, is a small molecule inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinase of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-1, platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-a and ß, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR-2). [29] Therefore, it appears that nintedanib by inhibiting the receptor tyrosine kinase of all the above mentioned growth factors is shown to have an effect in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.