Improved Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Mortality Risk ScoresShow Positive Impact of Ralinepag at the ISHLT 38th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions

NICE, FR, April 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 38th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions, Raymond Benza, MD, FAAC, shared results ofhis team’s phase two study analysis on using Ralinepag—an oral, selective Prostacyclin (IP) receptoragonist medication—to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension currently in development. During the presentation, Benza shared that in a 22-week study, 40 patients enrolled who had been prescribed ralinepag and another 21 patients on placebos. Results showed that after the treatment period,more patients treated with ralinepag compared with the placebo group stayed or moved into a low-risk mortality category significantly improving pulmonary vascular resistance. The study measured low-risk mortality using three well-established risk scores from three registries.

During the presentation, researchers shared the importance of developing accurate risk scores to enable identification of patients at highest risk for mortality, and assessment of the impact of treatments on moving patients into a low-risk category. The team used the following registries to calculate risk scores:
● REVEAL
● French Pulmonary Hypertension Network
● COMPERA

“It’s exciting to see continued progress with PAH treatment and we’re delighted to have the ralinepag study results presented here at the ISHLT Annual Meeting,” said Christian Benden, MD,FCCP, Scientific Program Chair for the ISHLT 38th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.

Benza indicated a ralinepag phase three program in patients with PAH is currently being planned to evaluate the impact on clinical outcomes and exercise capacity.

About PAH
A devastating disease with a poor prognosis, PAH continues to affect nearly 200,000 people per year in the US. PAH is high blood pressure in the lungs. It is a chronic disease that can lead to right heart failure if undiagnosed. This disease affects people of all ages, races, and ethnicities. While there is currently no cure for PAH, advances in treatment options allow for effective disease management.

About ISHLT
The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) is a not-for- profit,multidisciplinary, professional organization with more than 3,800 members from over 45 countries, representing over 15 different professional disciplines involved in the management and treatment of end-stage heart and lung disease. All ISHLT members share a common dedication to improving the care of patients with advanced heart or lung disease through transplantation,mechanical support and innovative therapies via research, education, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.ishlt.org.
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