News

Irving, Texas based Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has enrolled the first patient in a Phase 2 dose ranging study examining the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of bardoxolone methyl in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is a life-threatening disease involving endothelial dysfunction, vasoconstriction in small pulmonary arteries, aberrant…

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) affects females more often than males. Since a major difference between females and males is their respective levels of estrogen production, estrogen is thought to play a role in PAH pathology. A group of researchers from the University of Glasgow and the Novartis…

Researchers in a major study based at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, Massachusetts, have linked development of the deadly vascular disease pulmonary hypertension (PH) to a related family of molecules, and show that the disorder’s progression involves disparate molecular pathways that span multiple cell types. MicroRNAs…

Genomics development and commercialization specialist firm Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI) of La Jolla, CA, and Silver Spring, Maryland-based Lung Biotechnology Inc., a subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation, have entered into a multi-year research and development agreement to develop humanized pig organs using synthetic genomic advances. The…

SteadyMed Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on developing drugs to treat underserved medical needs in orphan and high value disease states, recently announced a development and manufacturing agreement with Bespak Europe, a Consort Medical company and supplier of drug delivery devices for injectable and inhaled products. The two companies will join efforts to produce…

Yoga for PH is a novel exercise program developed by Henry Ford Hospital to improve balance, strength, reduce stress and calm the nervous system of patients with pulmonary hypertension. The first-of-its-kind 40-minute program includes three levels of yoga exercises and a nutrition and lifestyle guide and is already available…

The nutritional supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may have immunomodulatory and cardioprotective properties, which can potentially benefit pulmonary hypertension patients, according to the recent study “N-acetylcysteine improves established monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats,” conducted by Dr. Marie-Camille Chaumais, at the University of Paris-Sud, College of Pharmacy, France. As the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension…

Biothech company Bellerophon Therapeutics met the enrollment goal for its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating INOpulse in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Eighty patients, with age limits of 16-80 years, were enrolled at 52 sites across the United States and Canada. INOpulse is pulsed, inhaled nitric oxide.

The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) has announced updates to its Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension guidelines in the online publication of “Pharmacological Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Adults: CHEST Guideline” (Chest. 2014;145(5):1055-1063. doi:10.1378/chest.13-1864) in the journal CHEST. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare form of pulmonary…

Actelion Ltd. met the primary endpoint of its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of selexipag in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. Morbidity and mortality were decreased in patients dosed with selexipag relative to placebo. “I am overwhelmed by the result of this long-term outcome study that evaluated selexipag in…

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is hosting the 2014 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions, in what is expected to be the largest gathering of the pulmonary hypertension community in the world. Leaders of PH associations from around the globe will join patients, caregivers, families, nurses, and other…

For those with PAH, treating inflammation associated with the disease could be the next step in improving quality of life and reducing the mortality rate. Reata Pharmaceuticals has enrolled the first patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial to assess the safety, tolerance, and efficacy of…