Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Announces Five Year Partnership With Boehringer Ingelheim To Support Programs Designed To Improve Patient Outcomes

CHICAGO, Nov. 5, 2015 -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), the leading pulmonary fibrosis resource for patients and their families as well as for the medical community, and Boehringer Ingelheim today announced a five year partnership that will support the PFF's mission to raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), provide disease education and advance care and funding research for the PF community.

The partnership will primarily focus upon two of the PFF's signature programs: the Care Center Network (CCN) and the multi-center PFF Patient Registry. Boehringer Ingelheim, a research-driven pharmaceutical company that has been an industry leader for nearly a century in the discovery and development of therapies for serious respiratory diseases, has been a generous PFF sponsor since 2011.

"Boehringer Ingelheim is a significant partner and through their support and collaboration, we are advancing patient care and paving the way toward a cure," said Patti Tuomey, EdD, president and chief executive officer of the PFF. "This investment comes at a critical time when such funding is needed in order to advance research as the PFF transforms the patient experience."

"This five year partnership with the PFF will offer critical support and resources for people living with these devastating diseases," said Al Masucci, vice president, IPF Business Unit, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "As an industry leader in respiratory care, we are proud to offer our continued support to the broader pulmonary fibrosis community. We are pleased to partner with the PFF in its efforts to empower patients to obtain an early diagnosis, high-quality medical care and to advance research leading to healthier outcomes and better quality of life."

Announced in 2013, the CCN, which is currently comprised of 21 medical centers in 20 states across the country, uses a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to deliver comprehensive care to people living with PF, while offering access to important support services for patients and their families. Plans are currently underway to expand the CCN to 40 sites by the end of the year. CCN sites will have the option of applying to participate in the soon-to-be-launched national PFF Patient Registry, which will collect patient data to facilitate ongoing research.

The PFF Patient Registry will permit researchers, through the generous contribution of medical data by patients, to gain a better understanding of how different forms of PF progress, who is affected by PF and how patients respond to different treatments. Data from the Registry will help inform best practices in care and identify potential treatment targets.

In addition, other PFF signature programs that will receive further funding from Boehringer Ingelheim include the PFF Ambassador program, the PFF Support Group Leader Network, the PFF Disease Education Webinar Series and disease education materials.

PF is a devastating group of relentlessly progressive diseases, with no known cure. The fight for improved treatments and an eventual cure for pulmonary fibrosis is a long one, and it will take future partnerships and ongoing donor support to succeed.

For more information about the PFF Care Center Network, the PFF's signature programs and the PFF Patient Registry or to make a donation, please visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which, over a period of time, lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff and scarred. The development of the scar tissue is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred and grows thicker, the lungs lose their ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. As a result, the brain and other organs don't receive enough oxygen. In some cases, doctors can determine the cause of the fibrosis, but in many cases, there is no known cause. When the cause of the fibrosis is unknown (and certain pathologic or radiographic criteria are met), the disease is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or IPF. There is no cure for IPF. Presently, there are two FDA-approved treatments for IPF in the U.S.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation 
The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is to serve as the trusted resource for the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community by raising awareness, providing disease education, advancing care and funding research. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, people with PF and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside, its third biennial international health care conference, will be held November 12-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844. TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or +1 312.587.9272 from outside of the U.S.