A project investigating the role of a special protein called PFKFB3 in pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. PFKFB3 is a potential new therapeutic target for early stages of PH. PFKFB3 is an enzyme involved in the…
Bellerophon Therapeutics announced that is moving forward with a planned Phase 2b trial that will investigate INOpulse as a therapy for pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PH-COPD), following an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the study’s design. INOpulse therapy is based on…
Age, ischemic heart disease, and kidney dysfunction are important predictors of outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), a Swedish study shows. The research, “Impact of age and comorbidity on risk stratification in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published recently in the European Respiratory Journal.
A gene called FoxM1 was seen to be an important regulator of the vascular remodeling process involved in pulmonary hypertension. It triggers the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the lung’s blood vessels, which in turn promotes the thickening of artery walls and elevated arterial blood pressure. Inhibiting or blocking FoxM1 activity…
At least 800 people representing some 45 countries are soon expected to gather in Austria’s capital city, Vienna, for ECRD 2018, the 9th European Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products. The May 10-12 meeting is sponsored by Eurordis, the Paris-based group that defines itself as a “patient-driven alliance”…
Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who can walk more than 400 meters (437 yards) on a six-minute walk test have better long-term prognosis, with lower risk of PAH-related death or hospitalization, results from a Phase 3 clinical trial show. The study, “…
Activation of a molecule called PPAR-gamma may be a future strategy to prevent pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases, a study suggests. Findings were reported in the study, “PPARγ agonist pioglitazone reverses pulmonary hypertension and prevents right heart failure via fatty acid oxidation,” published in…
Actelion Pharmaceuticals submitted a supplemental new drug application to U.S. regulatory authorities seeking expanded approval for Opsumit (macitentan) to treat inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration application is based on promising results from the Phase 2 MERIT-1 clinical trial (NCT02021292) that…
Signaling, or “crosstalk,” between smooth muscle and other cells in the lungs’ vasculature can promote the progression of pulmonary hypertension, research in mice shows. The findings point to mechanisms underlying PH that may lead to new treatments, especially ones targeting early stages of the disease. The research “Cell Autonomous…
Right ventricular function of the heart is the primary determining factor of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) receiving specific treatments, a study suggests. The study, “Predictors of poor outcome in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A single center study,” was published in the journal…
Surgery to repair congenital heart defects leads to longer survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) caused by heart disease, according to researchers. This finding was reported in the study, “Contemporary survival of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and congenital systemic to pulmonary shunts,” published…
Supplemental oxygen use is associated with improved survival in a subpopulation of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a study has found. Current guidelines that recommend oxygen supplementation therapy for PAH patients are based on early data that showed the benefits of long-term oxygen therapy in patients with…
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