News

Actelion’s Opsumit (macitentan) made it easier for blood to pass through the lung blood vessels of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients, a Phase 2 clinical trial suggests. In addition to lowering patients’ lung blood pressure, Opsumit also improved their ability to exercise, and was safe, researchers said. The trail…

IV delivery of stem cells to rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) reduced the animals’ harmful lung blood vessel remodeling and improved their blood flow, a study reports. Researchers said the implication was that the stem cells could be used as a treatment for PAH. They used a type of stem…

A top pulmonary hypertension expert will be among more than 80 speakers at this month’s Rare Disease & Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit in Washington. The two-day event Oct. 16-17, which is in its sixth year, will be hosted by the nonprofit National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). It…

An inherited virus’ shift from a dormant to an active mode appears to be linked to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension in rats, a study reports. Scientists may be able to develop PAH therapies around the idea of preventing the human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) from becoming active, the study added.

Pulmonary artery dilation speeds up the progression of pediatric idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a Japanese study shows. Dilation of the main pulmonary artery (MPA) and narrowing of the peripheral pulmonary artery are both characteristic of PAH. Previous studies have shown that MPA dilation is linked to higher pulmonary artery…

A University of Oregon researcher played a key role in the early work that led to Complexa’s pulmonary hypertension therapy CXA-10 going to clinical trials. The treatment is designed to prevent inflammation and lung scarring. It will be investigated in two clinical trials as a non-steroid alternative for treating pulmonary…

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) impacts multiple aspects of patients’ and caregivers’ lifes, a new survey from China shows. The study, “The impact and financial burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension on patients and caregivers: results from a national survey,” was published in the journal Medicine. PAH is…

Researchers found that impaired right atrium (RA) function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) carries a worse prognosis, or expected outcome. The right atrium is the upper chamber of the heart that pumps blood from the veins into the right ventricle (RV). The study, “Right atrial function…

More than 2,000 letters urge Canadian health authorities to make all pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapies available through public funding so that new life-extending medications are accessible to all who need them. The letters were signed by PAH patients, their caregivers, family members, and friends and will be delivered to…

Pfizer’s Phase 4 clinical trial (NCT00323297) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) shows no clinical benefits of adding Revatio (sildenafil) to a stable Tracleer (bosentan) regimen. The study, “Sildenafil dosed concomitantly with bosentan for adult pulmonary arterial hypertension in a randomized controlled trial,” appeared in the…

Carvedilol, a common heart disease medication marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Coreg, can help treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with right ventricular heart failure, research shows. A study, “Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment with carvedilol for heart failure: a randomized controlled trial,” published in the journal JCI Insights, concluded that carvedilol…

Celgene has given Acceleron Pharma the global rights to develop and commercialize sotatercept as a  treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other lung diseases. Acceleron obtained the rights under a revision of the collaboration agreement that the companies signed in February 2008. The terms of the original agreement will apply…