Macitentan, a new drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), appears to be safe and effective, but it is unclear whether it offers any significant advantages over currently available drugs. The drug, a dual endothelin-receptor antagonist, is under development from Actelion as an enhanced version of bosentan (Tracleer). The results of a phase 3 trial, SERAPHIN (Study with an Endothelin Receptor Antagonist in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension to Improve Clinical Outcome), have now been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
In the trial, 742 patients with PAH were randomized to one of three groups: a daily dose of 3 mg of macitentan, a daily dose of 10 mg of macitentan, or placebo. The primary endpoint (the time to the first occurrence of a composite endpoint of death, atrial septostomy, lung transplantation, initiation of treatment with intravenous or subcutaneous prostanoids, or worsening of pulmonary arterial hypertension) was significantly reduced in the two treatment arms:
…
Click here to read the full post on Forbes.
Speak Your Mind