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A gene therapy designed to provide a protein implicated in heart function improvement was found to lessen pulmonary blood vessel remodeling and reduce lung blood pressure in a preclinical study of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The study, “Apela gene therapy alleviates pulmonary hypertension in rats,” was published in…

Pulnovo Medical reported that it “successfully concluded” a first meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the design of a pivotal clinical trial of its pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) device in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PADN aims to lower pulmonary artery pressure by…

Higher levels of the metal antimony were found in the bloodstream of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) than those without the condition, a pilot study reported. Elevated antimony levels also correlated with higher blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and reduced heart function. The pilot study, “Plasma…

When Zac Gunn was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) three years ago, he was in very poor shape. But he rallied, astounding his medical team with his resilience and zest for life. And recently, the 4-year-old, who is awaiting a lung transplant, went on stage to receive the Child…

People with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have a distinct immune profile compared with healthy individuals, according to a new study that also found different activity levels in PAH patients of genes involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling, oxygen transport, and blood cell development. In fact, more than 1,200 genes were…

Note: This story was updated July 13, 2022, to correct the name of Rare-X’s CEO Charlene Son Rigby. Nonprofits, scientists, governmental organizations, and the rare disease drug development industry have long cited 7,000 as the average number of rare diseases in the world.

The use of the hormone vasopressin successfully stabilized symptoms associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in newborns, and avoided the need for more invasive treatment approaches in some infants, according to data from 10 cases. “Although our findings are exploratory and further research is needed to establish safety and efficacy,…

Hyaluronic acid, a major component of the extracellular matrix that supports cell function, directly contributes to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) via pulmonary vascular remodeling, a preclinical study has found. By pharmacologically blocking the production of the substance in a PH mouse model, researchers were able to prevent…

Levels of the protein TXNRD1 are reduced in the blood of people with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), suggesting it may be useful as a potential diagnostic marker or treatment target in IPAH, according to a new study. “This study is the first report to prove that TXNRD1 may…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LungFit PH, Beyond Air‘s device to administer nitric oxide therapy, to treat persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). “The FDA approval of LungFit PH enables a new era of nitric oxide therapy and marks a pivotal event for…

The leading causes of death among people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) differ by PH type, a Japanese study has found. When categorized using the World Health Organization (WHO) PH classification, those in group 1 died mostly from PH itself, those in group 3 died more often from…

An under-the-skin infusion of a protein called netrin-1 — originally found to regulate nervous system development — shows promise for lessening pulmonary hypertension (PH), a mouse study suggests. Additionally, the scientists found that three small peptides derived from netrin-1 also are a potential therapy for easing PH. The…