News - Hypertension Week of Feb. 2, 2003/ Vol. 2 No. 05

Study: Remodulin Reduces Pulmonary Hypertension

The drug Remodulin is effective in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, according to an article in the February issue of Cardiovascular Pharmacology.

Remodulin (treprostinil) is a longer-lasting alternative to intravenous prostacyclin, according to its manufacturer United Therapeutics. Remodulin received U.S. Food and Drug Administration last spring as a continuous subcutaneous infusion for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The article summarizes three pilot clinical trials that evaluated the effects of Remodulin in the management of primary pulmonary hypertension.

In the first trial, the intravenous prostacyclin epoprostenol (Flolan) and intravenous Remodulin were compared, while the second trial compared intravenous Remodulin and subcutaneous Remodulin. In the third trial, subcutaneous Remodulin was compared with a placebo.

In all three studies, patients with primary pulmonary hypertension receiving Remodulin had reductions in their pulmonary arterial pressures and experienced other favorable improvements in their blood circulation measurements.

In addition, patients receiving subcutaneous Remodulin showed clinically significant improvement in their exercise capacity. Adverse effects reported (headache, diarrhea, flushing) were similar to those reported with chronic intravenous epoprostenol therapy. Patients receiving chronic subcutaneous Remodulin infusions also reported erythema and pain at the infusion site.

Other sources: United Therapeutics, Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (41:2, p 293)