News

Worse Quality of Life, More Hospitalizations in CTEPH vs. IPAH

People with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) have significantly worse quality of life at their initial assessment, and higher hospitalization rates over time, relative to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients, according to a multicenter study in the U.S. Notably, these quality-of-life differences disappeared over time, and CTEPH…

Study of Gene Activity in Endothelial Cells Aims to Better Treat PAH

Potential targets to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were identified by analyzing the gene activity of individual lung endothelial cells isolated from a mouse model of the disease. Study results were validated by cross-referencing them with rat and human gene activity datasets. “The identification of distinct molecular mechanisms and…

Groups Poised to Mark PH Awareness Month

November is Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month, when patients, caregivers, family members, and friends will come together virtually and in person to drive public recognition of the chronic heart and lung disease. The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA), the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to PH, is hosting a…

Opsynvi, Macitentan Plus Tadalafil, Approved in Canada for PAH

Opsynvi, a fixed-dose oral combination of macitentan and tadalafil, was approved by Health Canada for the long-term treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It is for use by patients on stable doses of its two active compounds: macitentan (sold as Opsumit) at 10 mg and tadalafil (sold as Adcirca) at 40 mg. Marketed…

Genetic Analysis Spots Cancer Therapies With Potential to Treat PH

By analyzing how medications affect the genetic activity of cells, researchers developed a computational pipeline that may be useful in repurposing cancer treatments for use in other diseases. Leveraging this pipeline, the team identified two compounds, I-BET762 and BRD2889, that might be refined — more quickly and at lower cost…

Global Genes, Diversity Coalition Team Up to Advance Health Equity

Global Genes has partnered with the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) to advance health equity for rare disease patients and caregivers in underrepresented communities of color. “For rare disease patients, there are many challenges — and for people of color with a rare disease, these challenges are compounded…

FDA Declines to Approve Tyvaso DPI, Citing Inspection Issue

Due to problems at a third-party facility, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to not approve Tyvaso DPI, a dry powder inhaled formulation of treprostinil, at this time. According to United Therapeutics, the medication’s developer, the issue is expected to be dealt with soon. The company anticipates…

Oxygen Therapy May Ease Lung Pressure in CTEPH Before Angioplasty

Oxygen therapy may help relieve lung pressure in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who are about to undergo balloon pulmonary angioplasty, a procedure in which balloons are used to open blood vessels that have been chronically narrowed or blocked, according to a new study. Researchers found a decrease…

PH Patients at High Risk of Misusing Opioids After Surgery

People with pulmonary hypertension (PH) who start treatment with opioids to manage pain after undergoing surgery are at high risk of continuing to take these addictive medications for longer than required, new research suggests. Indeed, hypertension was one of eight specifically identified “top risk factors” for “new persistent post-surgical…