Marta Figueiredo, PhD, science writer —

Actelion Pharmaceuticals’ Opsumit (macitentan) may be a potential therapy for portopulmonary hypertension, according to positive results from a Phase 4 clinical study. The data was presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) meeting, held Sept. 15-19 in Paris. The development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in association with…

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) affects the health of the gut’s microbial community, or microbiota, with an imbalance possibly being a factor in disease progression, a small study performed in a rat PAH model reports. The study, “Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Affects the Rat Gut Microbiome,” was published in the…

Scleroderma patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are at a high risk of PAH-related death, especially in the four years after the PAH diagnosis, a study shows. Also, being a man, having diffuse scleroderma, and worse scores on respiratory- and heart-related tests were associated with a higher risk of…

Direct oral anticoagulants — a type of blood thinner medication — are a safe and effective treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), according to a small study. The study, “Use of direct oral anticoagulants for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension,” was published in the journal Clinics.

Low levels of oxygen in the blood of people with idiopathic or heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH or HPAH) are associated with secondary diseases and a poor patient outlook, a study shows. IPAH and HPAH patients can have hypoxemia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood, either at rest…

A single-dose of Ventavis (inhaled iloprost) is safe and effective in treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with greatest efficacy seen in patients with severe PH, a study by researchers in China reports. The study “Hemodynamic and gas exchange effects of…

A retrospective study showed that pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-specific drug therapies do not raise the risk of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The Chinese study, “Incidence and risk of respiratory tract infection associated with specific drug therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review” appeared in the journal…

A retrospective study found that patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) have more pronounced decreases in mental health than those with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The German study, “Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related QOL in Patients Diagnosed with PAH or CTEPH,” appeared in the journal Lung. PAH and…

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada has launched its Life in Purple Challenge campaign to mark November, Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. PH is a rare, progressive and life-threatening disease caused by an increase of blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and veins, which become narrowed and blocked. Common PH symptoms…

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals has enrolled and dosed its first patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in a Phase 1 clinical study assessing the safety, tolerability and hemodynamic response to its PAH drug candidate PB1046. Participants are all adult PAH patients with a permanently implanted hemodynamic monitor (CardioMEMS HF System). PB1046,…