Patrícia Silva, PhD, director of science content —

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals announced the closing of $14.7 million in a financing mechanism called convertible notes that will help it  advance the clinical development of PB1046, its lead candidate to treat rare diseases of the heart and lungs, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PB1046 is a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor agonist, being…

Scientists at Imperial College London have designed software that creates virtual 3-D versions of patients’ heart motion, helping doctors to determine likely outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) with greater accuracy, and possibly improve their treatment. The technology uses cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood tests, and other clinical observations, according to…

SteadyMed Therapeutics recently reported its strategic goals and priorities for 2017, including plans to file a New Drug Application (NDA) to market Trevyent in the U.S., the company’s lead candidate to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Trevyent is based on treprostinil, the only parenteral therapy for PAH approved by the…

Vivus has acquired the global exclusive rights from Selten Pharma to develop and commercialize tacrolimus and ascomycin, two investigational treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other vascular diseases. Vivus, a biopharmaceutical company based on Campbell, California, acquired Selten’s licence to a series of patents owned by the Board of…

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals recently announced that a first patient has completed the 24-week dosing in the Phase 2 LIBERTY study assessing ubenimex as a therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). That patient is now continuing with treatment in an open-label extension trial. “There has been tremendous enthusiasm in the entire community — patients, families,…

Arena Pharmaceuticals has completed enrolling patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of ralinepag (APD811), the company’s investigational drug for the treatment of PAH. “This marks an important step in the development of ralinepag and is evidence of our strategic focus on…

SteadyMed Therapeutics has named pulmonary hypertension (PH) advocate Carl Hicks Jr. to its newly created position of vice president for PH patient advocacy and community relations. Hicks has been fighting PH for over 20 years. He is recognized as a leader in the PH community through the U.S. and worldwide, advocating…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designed Reviva Pharmaceuticals’ RP5063 an Orphan Drug as a potential treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), providing the company with developmental and testing assistance. “We are pleased to receive Orphan Drug Designation for RP5063, which emphasizes the significant need for new mediations for patients…

ProMetic Life Sciences recently presented positive preclinical data on its fibrosis-targeting lead candidate, PBI-4050, showing that the drug effectively reduces pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. The company also presented positive effects of PBI-4050 on cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The data…

The Fetal Health Foundation (FHF) awarded this year’s Brianna Marie Memorial Research Grant to Dr. Jan Deprest, a specialist in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a life-threatening condition in infants caused by a birth defect in which the diaphragm does not form completely, creating a hole in the muscle between the chest and…

Actelion announced that a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating its pulmonary hypertension treatment, macitentan, in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has met its primary endpoint. At week 16, treatment resulted in a significant reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) compared to placebo. MERIT is a 24-week, randomized and…

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is calling on people affected by pulmonary hypertension (PH) to attend the free PHA on the Road: PH Patients and Families Education Forum it is helping to sponsor on Nov. 1, at the Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina in Tampa, Florida. Carolyn Sheehy…