A one‐year, phase I/IIa, open‐label pilot trial of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of systemic sclerosis–associated active interstitial lung disease

Objective Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) may play a critical role in systemic sclerosis (SSc)–related interstitial lung disease (ILD), and imatinib is a potent inhibitor of TGFβ and PDGF production. In this 1‐year, phase I/IIa open‐label pilot study of imatinib in patients with SSc‐related active ILD, our primary aim was to assess the safety of imatinib; we also explored its efficacy. Methods We recruited 20 SSc patients with a forced vital capacity (FVC) of