Primary Outcome Measures:
- Progression defined as a greater than 10% decline in the forced vital capacity (FVC) or death
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Change from baseline in % predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at 96 weeks
- Change from baseline in the resting arterial blood gas (ABG) assessment of A-a gradient at 96 weeks
- Change in the number of meters walked in the 6 minute walk test at 96 weeks
- Change from baseline in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) at 96 weeks
- Change from baseline in the quality of life (QOL) assessments
- Change in the modified C-reactive protein (CRP) score at 96 weeks
- Mortality at 96 weeks
This is a multicenter, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled, randomized phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) in the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). One-hundred- twenty patients will be enrolled in the trial in total. Subjects must have a diagnosis made by HRCT showing definite or probable IPF and clinical symptoms consistent with IPF with onset between 3 and 36 months prior to screening. Subjects will be randomly assigned to receive either Gleevec 600 mg orally or placebo, once per day for approximately 2 years. The primary efficacy will be progression defined as a greater than 10% decline in the forced vital capacity or death. Measures of safety will include all randomized patients who receive at least one dose of study medication. All adverse events and serious adverse events will be separately tabulated and mapped to a standard classification system and grouped by body system. Any serious adverse events that occur during the trial and 30 days after the end of therapy will be reported to the FDA within 24 hours and followed to outcome.