José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

José holds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Porto, Portugal. After postdocs at Weill Connell Medicine and Western University, where he studied the processes driving hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, he moved on in 2016 to a career in science writing and communication. José is the author of several peer-reviewed papers and a book chapter and has presented his research in numerous international meetings.

Articles by José Lopes

Arena Pharmaceuticals, United Therapeutics Reach Global Licensing Agreement for Ralinepag

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…

Specific Blood Flow Pattern in Patients with PH and Aortic Stenosis Linked to Poorer Outcomes, Study Reports

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…

Investigational Extended-Release Ralinepag for PAH Treatment Shows Favorable Results in Phase 1 Trials

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,…

#ATS2018 – CTEPH May Be a Genetic Disease, Study Suggests

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…


A Conversation With Rare Disease Advocates