News

EMA branch favors approving Winrevair to treat PAH across EU

An advisory committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is recommending that Winrevair (sotatercept) be approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the Europe Union. Specifically, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued an opinion recommending that Winrevair to be used in…

Study identifies pro-inflammatory gut bacteria as PAH risk factor

A new study identifies the presence of bacteria from the genus Eubacterium fissicatena, known for their pro-inflammatory properties, as a risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While the findings suggest “specific intestinal bacteria” are biomarkers for pulmonary PAH, and show “compelling evidence” that connects gut imbalance, or dysbiosis,…

Direct oral anticoagulants seen as effective as VKAs in CTEPH

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) — a type of blood thinner medication — are as safe and effective as vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), the standard blood thinner used to treat chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), according to a meta-analysis of published studies. The findings support the use of DOACs as a…

Gemcitabine, chemotherapy for solid tumors, may lead to PAH

Gemcitabine, a chemotherapy given to treat solid cancers, may drive the onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients or worsen existing PAH, a recent study reports. Stopping treatment with gemcitabine, with or without a subsequent PAH-approved treatment, led to clinical improvement or disease stabilization for a majority…

Higher Revatio dose not linked to increased mortality in PAH: Trial

Treatment with Revatio (sildenafil) at a higher dose than the recommended and previously approved doses did not significantly increase mortality of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). That’s according to results from the Phase 3b/4 AFFILIATE trial (NCT02060487), which compared three treatment doses, each given three times…