Liquid formulation of sildenafil for PAH now available in US
Treatment recently approved to increase exercise capacity, delay worsening
Liqrev, a new liquid formulation of sildenafil designed for patients who have trouble swallowing tablets, is now available in the U.S., according to an announcement from CMP Pharma, its developer.
Liqrev was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this year as a treatment to improve exercise capacity and delay clinical worsening in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
“Liqrev is for patients who need a liquid formulation because they have difficulty swallowing tablets. This product is a nice addition to our portfolio of liquids for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH),” Gerald Sakowski, CEO of CMP Pharma, said in a company press release.
The newly available therapy can be obtained through three specialty pharmacies and selected wholesalers, according to CMP, which didn’t provide further details. CMP offers a support program for patients and clinicians, which can be contacted from Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST by phone at 1-844-267-0001.
What is sildenafil?
Sildenafil belongs to a class of medications called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, which reduce blood pressure by prompting blood vessels to relax and widen. Formulations of sildenafil have been approved to treat PAH since the late 1990s. The therapy has been available in tablet, oral suspension, and injectable formulations under the brand name Revatio by Pfizer.
The approval of Liqrev for PAH was supported by clinical trial data showing the new liquid formulation’s effectiveness was comparable to Revatio. According to CMP, the new therapy “addresses the inconsistencies that come from unapproved crushed or compounded tablets and removes the need for complex preparation of powder formulations.”
Liqrev is taken at a dose of 2 mL of the liquid suspension (equating 20 mg of sildenafil) three times daily. It’s available in bottles containing 122 mL of the liquid, with a shelf life of two years. It has a strawberry flavor.
Liqrev shouldn’t be taken in combination with organic nitrates, as this raises the risk of low blood pressure, or Adempas (riociguat). It also shouldn’t be taken by anyone with an allergy to any component of the liquid suspension.
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