To Mark Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, Boehringer Ingelheim Announces Discovery Channel Documentary on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announces the airing of Every Breath Counts: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis -- a documentary supported by the company and created in collaboration with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis in an effort to increase awareness and understanding of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) among the general public. The documentary will air on the Discovery Channel on September 13 and 27 at 8:00 am ET/PT and is also available for viewing on www.everybreathcountsfilm.com.

IPF is a rare, progressive and fatal lung disease that causes permanent scarring of the lungs, difficulty breathing and decreases the amount of oxygen the lungs can supply to the body. IPF affects as many as 132,000 Americans, and the majority of patients only live three to five years following diagnosis. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments.

"Every Breath Counts is an authentic and emotional depiction of the impact IPF has on the lives of patients and their caregivers," said Tunde Otulana, M.D., senior vice president, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "For 50 years, Boehringer Ingelheim has been a leader in respiratory research, patient support and disease education, and support of opportunities such as this documentary enable us to further our commitment to supporting the IPF community."

Every Breath Counts aims to increase awareness of IPF by highlighting the day to day challenges of IPF patients and their caregivers, and providing commentary from leading pulmonologists. The powerful stories shared in this documentary put a face to IPF -- from those who suffer with the disease, to the physicians who help patients manage their symptoms, to the advocates fighting for continued research for IPF.

"This is an encouraging time for those living with or affected by this devastating disease, as the understanding and research of this disease continues to advance," said Erica Herzog, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of the ILD Center of Excellence at Yale Fibrosis Program, Yale School of Medicine, who is featured in Every Breath Counts. "Additionally, programs like the Every Breath Counts documentary and the FDA's public meeting on IPF on September 26^th, are truly giving patients a voice to share their stories and the impact of this disease to help raise awareness and understanding."

To watch Every Breath Counts: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis online visit www.everybreathcountsfilm.com, or to learn more about IPF visit www.lungsandyou.com

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, severely debilitating and ultimately fatal lung disease for which there are no FDA-approved treatment options in the U.S. Although lung transplantation has been shown to improve survival, the procedure is uncommon because of the limited availability of lungs for transplantation, or people are either too ill or don't survive long enough to undergo the transplant. The incidence of IPF can vary considerably and there is some evidence that the population is increasing. IPF is characterized by progressive scarring of lung tissue and loss of lung function over time. Development of scarred tissue is called fibrosis. Over time, as the tissue thickens and stiffens with scarring, the lungs lose their ability to take in and transfer oxygen into the bloodstream, and vital organs do not get enough oxygen. As a result, individuals with IPF experience shortness of breath, cough and often have difficulty participating in everyday physical activities.

Leading Respiratory Forward 
Through research, treatments and patient-centric support services, the Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) lung health portfolio is designed to help address the challenges people living with a lung disease face every day. Leveraging the company's cutting edge science and leadership in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), BI is researching new treatment approaches where needs persist. It is the company's goal to make a difference in the lives of patients with COPD, asthma, lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other respiratory diseases.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 140 affiliates and more than 46,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

As a central element of its culture, Boehringer Ingelheim has a demonstrated commitment to corporate social responsibility. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim's endeavors.

In 2012, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about $19.1 billion (14.7 billion euro). R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 22.5% of its net sales.

For more information please visit www.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Contact:
Boehringer Ingelheim
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Name: Jennifer Forsyth
Public Relations
Phone: 203-791-5889
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.