budesonide + poractant alfa

Budesonide + poractant alfa is an investigational combination therapy studied by the NICHD Neonatal Research Network in the Budesonide in Babies (BiB) Trial. It consists of the corticosteroid budesonide (Pulmicort) and the porcine-derived surfactant poractant alfa (Curosurf). The therapy is administered intratracheally to extremely preterm infants (22-28 weeks gestation) within 48-50 hours of birth to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and death. Budesonide acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent by binding to glucocorticoid receptors in the lungs, while poractant alfa provides exogenous surfactant to reduce alveolar surface tension and prevent lung collapse in infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Results from the Phase 3 trial published in 2025 indicated that this combination significantly reduces the incidence of physiologic BPD or death compared to surfactant alone.

Other names

budesonide + surfactantintratracheal budesonide and surfactantBiB Trial intervention