Blocking harmful lung damage during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by infections

Julia Chitty conducted research into repurposing the drug Pirfenidone, currently used in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to slow disease progression, for broader application in patients with respiratory disease, particularly to reduce excessive lung damage in the context of viral-induced exacerbations. Julia has demonstrated that pirfenidone was superior to the current standard therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, glucocorticosteroids, in reducing the severity of influenza infection and associated inflammation without suppressing the immune response. The findings within this thesis warrant further investigation into pirfenidone as a potential alternative therapy for patients with respiratory diseases.