Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Claims As Many Lives As Breast Cancer

Evel Knievel was known for his death defying stunts and his recovery fromlife threatening injuries due to those stunts. It is ironic the diseasethat claimed his life was one that has no treatment and no cure. Knievelwas unfortunately one of 40,000 people in the U.S. who will lose theirlives to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) this year, the same number aswill die from breast cancer. Yet, most people have never heard of IPF.

IPF has no FDA approved treatment, no known cause and no cure. Thedisease strikes randomly, placing American adults at risk to develop it.More than 128,000 people suffer from IPF in the United States, andprevalence and incidence of the deadly disease has increased more than 150percent in just five years.

"Our sympathies go out to the Knievel family. We know first hand thetragedy of IPF," said Mark Shreve, chief executive officer of the Coalitionfor Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF). "It is devastating news to IPF patients andtheir families that viable treatments for IPF still do not exist. Wedesperately need to increase awareness of IPF and fund research that willlead to new treatments, and ultimately a cure."

For more information on IPF, visit http://www.coalitionforpf.org.

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) IPF is a lung disorder characterized by a progressive scarring - knownas fibrosis - and deterioration of the lungs, which slowly robs its victimsof their ability to breathe. Approximately 128,000 Americans suffer fromIPF, which is the most prevalent of a classification of lung disordersknown as interstitial lung diseases (ILD's). There is currently no knowncause or cure for IPF, nor is there an FDA-approved treatment. An estimated48,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. IPF is difficult to diagnose, andan estimated two-thirds of patients die within five years of diagnosis.

About the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofitorganization, founded in 2001 to accelerate research efforts leading to acure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), while educating, supporting,and advocating for the community of patients, families, and medicalprofessionals fighting this disease. The CPF funds promising research intonew approaches to treat and cure pulmonary fibrosis; provides patients andfamilies with comprehensive education materials, resources, and hope;serves as a voice for national advocacy of IPF issues; and works to improveawareness of IPF in the medical community as well as the general public.The CPF's nonprofit partners include many of the most respected medicalcenters and healthcare organizations in the U.S. With more than 14,000members nationwide, the CPF is the largest nonprofit organization in theU.S. dedicated to advocating for those with pulmonary fibrosis.

For more information please visit http://www.coalitionforpf.org or call (888) 222-8541.