News

Noninvasive methods can help to determine which patients have a high probability of developing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and which are most unlikely to do so, researchers reported — offering clinicians further tools when examining people with suspected lung hypertension. The study, “Use of ECG and Other Simple Non-Invasive Tools…

Statins added to pulmonary hypertension (PH) treatment do not provide any clinical benefit for a clear majority of patients — although this drug’s use in those whose PH is the result of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show some “intriguing” points worthy of further study, researchers…

A woman with the genetic disease neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who developed pulmonary hypertension (PH) was successfully treated with a combination of increased pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-specific therapy and surgery that created a hole between her two heart chambers. The study, “Atrial septostomy and disease targeting…

Iron deficiency or low iron levels do not seem to be associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a study published in the scientific journal Plos One suggests.

SteadyMed Therapeutics, a California-based specialty pharmaceutical company that develops drug products for treating orphan and high-value diseases with unmet non-oral delivery needs, has hired Carl Hicks, Jr. to take on the newly created role of Vice President of PH Patient Advocacy and Community Relations. Hicks is a 20-year…

A molecule linked to pulmonary hypertension (PH) in earlier studies failed to serve as a biomarker of disease severity or prognosis in a new study, which analyzed blood levels of the factor in people with various types of lung hypertension. Although the molecule, known as Ang-1, does not appear to be a…

Pharmacologically inhibiting an enzyme called tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) that plays a role in serotonin biosynthesis can significantly reduce pulmonary arterial pressure, as well as pulmonary blood vessel wall thickness and blockade, according to a study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

A compilation of results from studies published from 2007–14 confirms that cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings are useful in predicting outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients and, in the future, may help in determining best therapies as the disease progresses. The review, “Cardiac…

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…

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center received a $7.3 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to pursue the development of a new stem cell therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Working with Capricor Therapeutics, the grant will support a clinical trial to test infusions of…

Although women with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are advised to avoid pregnancy, increasing numbers opt to tackle the risks to have a child. A recent review discussed the risks, and the best way to manage pregnancy in PAH. The review, “Pregnancy in pulmonary arterial hypertension,” published in the…