In the INMARK trial, a phase 3 RCT of nintedanib therapy for IPF patients with a diagnosis made within the previous 3 years and more than 80% of FVC, the product of C-reactive protein degraded by matrix metalloprotease was associated with changes in FVC for 52 weeks but not the reducing rate of decrease in FVC by nintedanib17. Here, CRP is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.