Thalomid (Celgene) successful treatment of cough associated with IPF

On September 18, 2012, a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found thalidomide (Thalomid) from Celgene was effective in treating coughing associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a debilitating disease characterized by the scarring or thickening of tissues deep in the lung. A 24 patient trial showed that Thalomid decreased cough by 65% and improved cough specific and respiratory specific quality of life by 20%. Further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy of thalidomide as a treatment of IPF.

see "Thalidomide for the Treatment of Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Randomized Trial"-Maureen R. Horton, MD; Victoria Santopietro; Leena Mathew, BS; Karen M. Horton, MD; Albert J. Polito, MD; Mark C. Liu, MD; Sonye K. Danoff, MD; and Noah Lechtzin, MD -Ann Intern Med. 18 September 2012;157(6):398-406 .