The TELO-SCOPE Study: Attenuating Telomere Attrition With Danazol. Is There Scope to Dramatically Improve Health Outcomes for Adults and Children With Pulmonary Fibrosis

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males and females aged >5 years, able to take capsules orally.
2. Fibrosing interstitial pneumonia (Idiopathic PF, idiopathic non-specific interstitialpneumonia, chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis,unclassifiable interstitial lung disease (ILD)) diagnosed according to the currentinternational guidelines.
3. Age-adjusted peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length < 10th centile on Flow-FISH.
4. FVC > 40% predicted.
5. DLCO > 25% predicted.
6. If receiving background pirfenidone / nintedanib, stable dose for 28 days prior toscreening.
7. Able to understand and sign a written informed consent form (or legally authorisedrepresentative).
8. Agreement to use a medically approved form of non-hormonal contraception (if ofchild-bearing potential) (noting that oral contraceptives are advised not to be usedconcurrently with danazol).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Actively or imminently listed for lung transplantation.
2. Undergone, awaiting, or likely to require bone marrow transplantation within 12months.
3. Concurrent enrolment in another study.
4. Females with a positive pregnancy test at screening or currently breastfeeding.
5. Pelvic infection.
6. Past jaundice with oral contraceptives.
7. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding.
8. Undiagnosed ovarian/uterine masses
9. Any history of malignancy likely to result in significant disability or likely torequire significant medical or surgical intervention within the next 12 months.
10. History of androgen-dependent tumour.
11. Any condition other than PF that, in the opinion of the investigator, is likely toresult in the death of the participant within the next 12 months.
12. History of end-stage liver disease or ALT or AST > 3 times the upper limit of normal.
13. History of end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis.
14. Markedly impaired cardiac function.
15. Known increased risk of or history of thromboembolism (e.g. Factor V Leiden, Protein Cor S deficiency).
16. Uncontrolled hypertension.
17. Uncontrolled lipoprotein disorder.
18. Poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus.
19. History of marked or persistent androgenic reaction to previous gonadal steroidtherapy.
20. History of epilepsy induced or worsened by previous gonadal steroid therapy.
21. History of raised intracranial pressure.
22. Known intolerance to danazol.
23. Porphyria.
24. Use of any of the following agents within 28 days before screening: danazol or otherandrogen therapy, warfarin or other anticoagulant, carbamazepine, phenytoin,investigational therapy, cytotoxic therapy, tacrolimus, cyclosporine.
25. Professional singer due to potential for voice change.
26. Competitive athletes.
27. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) above the upper limit of normal (adult males only).