A new study has shown that a drug called sotatercept could make a big difference in treating a serious lung disease known as pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH.
This disease causes high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, making it hard for the heart to pump blood.
Over time, this can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and even heart failure. While there are some treatments already available, the disease can still be life-threatening, especially in its more advanced stages.
The new research focused on people who were diagnosed with PAH within the last year. Scientists found that adding sotatercept to the usual treatments greatly reduced the risk of the disease getting worse.
In fact, the study showed a 76% lower chance of things like difficulty breathing, worsening symptoms, or unexpected hospital visits in those who took the drug, compared to those who didn’t.
Sotatercept is an injectable medicine sold under the brand name Winrevair. It works differently from older drugs. PAH is linked to certain proteins in the body, called activins, that cause the blood vessels in the lungs to become thick and stiff.
This puts a strain on the heart. Sotatercept targets these proteins to help keep the blood vessels from thickening, which may protect the heart and lungs over time.
This exciting discovery came from a large clinical trial known as HYPERION. The trial included patients who had recently been diagnosed with PAH.
The trial was stopped earlier than expected because the results were so positive that researchers believed it would be unethical to continue giving some patients a placebo. After just three doses of sotatercept, patients were already showing signs of improvement.
Dr. Vallerie McLaughlin, a leading expert at the University of Michigan and the main researcher on the study, said that early use of sotatercept could help patients stay healthier for longer.
She explained that PAH is a serious and ongoing illness, and many people are not diagnosed until the disease is already in a dangerous stage. Starting sotatercept early could change that.
Earlier studies have shown that sotatercept can help people who have had PAH for many years.
These studies include the STELLAR trial, which found that patients were able to exercise more, and the ZENITH trial, which showed that people were less likely to die, be hospitalized, or need a lung transplant. But this new study is the first to look closely at patients who were still in the early stages of the disease.
In the HYPERION trial, fewer than 2% of the patients taking sotatercept were hospitalized due to worsening symptoms, compared to nearly 9% of those taking a placebo. Some people did experience side effects, including nosebleeds and small visible veins on the skin, but these were considered manageable.
Dr. Victor Moles, another researcher involved in the study, said the findings highlight how important it is to start treatment early. He believes that beginning sotatercept soon after diagnosis may give patients a better chance at staying well.
In summary, the HYPERION study shows that sotatercept, when used alongside standard treatments, could offer real hope to people who are newly diagnosed with PAH. It may help prevent the disease from getting worse and improve overall quality of life.
While more research will be needed to learn about long-term effects, these results mark a big step forward in the fight against a deadly disease.
The study is published in New England Journal of Medicine.
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