News

People infected with HIV are known to have a greater incidence of pulmonary hypertension and to be an almost 2,500-fold higher risk of developing PH than others, and a new study looked at HIV-infection and PH rates in Africa, a continent with the highest prevalence of HIV infections worldwide. The study, “Prevalence…

Children born to women with late-stage gestational diabetes — caused by a pregnancy-related, transient increase in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) — or to women who are overweight or obese are known to be a higher risk of pulmonary complications, namely respiratory distress and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). While efforts to…

The vascular constrictor coupling factor 6 (CF6) is involved in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension by creating an imbalance in the inner lining of lung blood vessels, part of larger process known as endothelial dysfunction, according to a recent study by Chinese researchers. The study, “Lung-specific RNA interference of…

Researchers identified two new drugs, both signaling inhibitors, that could aid in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by altering vessel stiffness and its downstream control of metabolism. Their work also suggests that a previously unknown link exists between vessel hardening and energy production in the disease. The study, “Vascular…

Karos Pharmaceuticals, a start-up focused on the selective modulation of peripheral serotonin synthesis, recently reported positive results from its Phase 1 clinical trials evaluating KAR5585, a compound being developed to treat orphan diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and carcinoid syndrome. KAR5585 is a first-in-class, selective inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase…

A 23-year-old woman with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) was successfully treated for malignant catatonia with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in what may be the first case of its kind. Her story is described in a recent study titled “A case of malignant catatonia with idiopathic pulmonary arterial…

A clinical trial exploring if Rituxan (rituximab) is effective in managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with scleroderma is now recruiting participants in numerous locations across the U.S. Rituxan is an immunotherapy drug in the form of an antibody against the CD20 molecule, found on the surface of certain…

Bayer and the Canadian Vascular Network (CVN) recently announced the winners of a joint research fellowship that provides recognition and financial support to outstanding Canadian physician-researchers with an academic interest in pulmonary hypertension (PH). The recipients are Dr. Jason Weatherland, a respirologist and clinical assistant professor at the University…

Actelion Pharmaceuticals recently announced that Swissmedic, the Swiss regulatory agency for therapeutic products, has approved the orally active, selective IP prostacyclin-receptor agonist Uptravi (selexipag) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Uptravi is indicated for the treatment of PAH in patients with advanced functional limitation (NYHA-functional class III/IV) to…

During their development, babies who will be born with Down syndrome have higher levels of anti-angiogenic factors in their lungs, impairing fetal lung vessel growth and potentially contributing to their developing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), researchers report. The study, “Increased Lung Expression of Anti-Angiogenic Factors in Down Syndrome: Potential Role in…

People with pulmonary arterial  hypertension (PAH) have higher than usual levels of a protein produced in cells in response to shock or stress — called heat shock protein 90 or HSP90 — and diminishing those levels helped to prevent pulmonary hypertension from progressing in a rat model of the disease, researchers reported.

Reata Pharmaceuticals recently provided an update on its clinical candidates and their developmental, including its Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies into bardoxolone methyl as a potential treatment for various types of pulmonary hypertension and omaveloxolone for neuromuscular diseases. Bardoxolone methyl is being developed for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), or high…