Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

Steve holds a PhD in biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada. As a medical scientist for 18 years, he worked in both academia and industry, where his research focused on the discovery of new vaccines and medicines to treat inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases. Steve is a published author in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and a patented inventor.

Articles by Steve Bryson

Gene Activity Analysis of Whole Blood Finds 3 Major PAH Subgroups

Gene activity analysis of whole blood collected from people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) identified three patient subgroups associated with distinct clinical features and outcomes, a study concluded. These findings may provide molecular insights into the development of PAH, improve disease risk assessments, and potentially guide individual treatment strategies,…

PhaseBio Ends Pemziviptadil Trial for PAH, Citing COVID-19 Impact

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals has voluntarily ended the Phase 2b trial testing its investigational pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapy pemziviptadil (PB1046), due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medicine manufacturing, associated supply, and enrollment rates. The company said it would conduct an analysis of the trial’s results and,…

INOpulse Reduces Pulmonary Blood Pressure in PH With Sarcoidosis

The use of the INOpulse combination drug-device therapy demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) — a measure of the internal resistance to blood flow within the lung arteries — in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with sarcoidosis (PH-Sarc). That’s according to top-line data…

Potential Oral Treatment Reverses Advanced PAH in Rats, Study Shows

An orally available small molecule, BI113823, successfully reversed the progression of severe, advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in a rat model, a study demonstrated. The experimental medicine lowered pulmonary blood pressure, reduced blood vessel thickening, suppressed inflammatory responses, and prevented right heart failure and death. These findings support the…

Study of Gene Activity in Endothelial Cells Aims to Better Treat PAH

Potential targets to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were identified by analyzing the gene activity of individual lung endothelial cells isolated from a mouse model of the disease. Study results were validated by cross-referencing them with rat and human gene activity datasets. “The identification of distinct molecular mechanisms and…

Long Noncoding RNAs May Have Role in PH Onset, Rat Study Finds

Seven long noncoding RNA molecules were found to be associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in an early study in rats, scientists reported. The researchers noted that some of these RNAs are known to regulate immune and inflammatory response pathways, which may participate in PH. “Our study…

Early CTEPH Diagnosis Linked to Key Benefits, ‘Acceptable’ Costs

Using a healthcare cost model, researchers in the Netherlands found that an early diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) leads to substantial life expectancy and quality of life benefits at an “acceptable” price. Although greater healthcare costs were associated with an earlier diagnosis — primarily due to the…

Rare Inherited Mutations Shown to Cause Severe Childhood PAH

Rare mutations in the ATP13A3 gene caused a severe inherited form of childhood-onset pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a case study of three families showed. These findings demonstrate the “growing importance” of genetic testing in patients with childhood-onset PAH, the scientists said, noting that the genetic basis of the disease…

FDA Grants Orphan Drug Status to Inhaled Imatinib Formulation

AER-901, an inhaled formulation of imatinib being developed as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The investigational therapy was designed with the goal of reducing the side effects reported among PAH patients using an…

Routine, Non-Invasive Tests May Predict PH Severity, Mortality

Routine blood screenings and non-invasive clinical tests may predict disease severity and mortality in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a study suggested. Specifically, the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) test, used in hematology laboratories to classify anemia, may help in assessing disease severity, while electrocardiographic ratios may predict…


A Conversation With Rare Disease Advocates