José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

A subset of bone marrow cells known as proangiogenic cells (PACs) may drive the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to a study that also showed that blocking a specific serotonin receptor may be a therapeutic strategy for the disease. The study, “Bone Marrow-Derived Proangiogenic…

Arena Pharmaceuticals and United Therapeutics have reached a global licensing agreement for the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapy candidate ralinepag. Ralinepag (APD811) is a next-generation, selective prostacyclin receptor agonist designed for oral delivery. Prostacyclin, produced by cells lining the walls of blood vessels, is a vasodilator (a widener of blood…

Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and severe aortic stenosis (AS), who have a specific, less frequent blood flow pattern, have worse cardiac function and increased mortality, according to a study. The study, “Haemodynamic mechanisms and long‐term prognostic impact of pulmonary hypertension in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing valve…

Extended-release tablets of ralinepag, Arena Pharmaceuticals’ treatment candidate for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), show a superior pharmacokinetic profile over both immediate-release ralinepeg capsules and approved immediate-release medication Uptravi (selexipag), according to two Phase 1 trials in healthy volunteers. Pharmacokinetics (PK) refer to how a drug is absorbed,…

Inhibition of proteins that regulate gene expression — called BET — were found to ease pulmonary hypertension (PH) in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a study reports. The study, “Inhibition of BET Proteins Reduces Right Ventricle Hypertrophy and Pulmonary Hypertension Resulting from Combined…

Research & DevelopmentTreatment with the approved anti-cancer medication sorafenib reversed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and cardiopulmonary remodeling (CPR) in a rat model, according to a new study. The findings suggest that a low-dose therapy with this compound may be successful in PAH treatment, the Japanese research team suggests.

Estimated survival in patients with either pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is worse if they also have atrial arrhythmias, according to a new U.S. study. The study, “Atrial arrhythmias are associated with increased mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published…

SOX17 may be a risk gene that contributes to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with congenital heart disease (CHD), as well as to idiopathic and/or familial PAH, according to researchers. Their study, “Rare variants in SOX17 are associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension with congenital…

An enzyme called NOX4 appears to have a crucial role in the blood vessel remodeling that can lead to pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a study in China reports. The research, “NOX4 expression and distal arteriolar remodeling correlate with pulmonary hypertension…

Infusions of large doses of intravenous iron may be a safe treatment approach for patients with low oxygen levels in their blood due to pulmonary hypertension (PH) and/or congenital heart disease (CHD), a study reports. The study, “Use of intravenous iron in cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease…

A cancer marker called NEDD9 is a critical mediator of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and could be a therapeutic target, according to new research. The study, “NEDD9 targets COL3A1 to promote endothelial fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Fibrosis…

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) may be an inherited genetic disease, a new study suggests. The results were recently presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2018 annual conference May 18-23 in San Diego. CTEPH, a rare form of pulmonary hypertension, is caused by blood clots that travel to the…