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Bayer HealthCare announced today that data evaluating riociguat in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) will be presented at the 2012 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) annual meeting in Atlanta, USA, from 20th – 25th October 2012.
“We are pleased to present top-line results of riociguat and its potential as a novel treatment option for PAH, as well as for CTEPH, a disease which has no current licensed pharmacological therapy,” said Kemal Malik, member of the Bayer HealthCare Executive Committee and Head of Global Development. “It is our aim to address the unmet needs of pulmonary hypertension by providing innovative medicines.”
Riociguat Phase III data
Key study data will be included in the CHEST late-breaking abstracts session on October 23, 2012 from 4.30 – 5.45 pm EDT in the convention centre, room C206.
Results will be presented on the efficacy and safety of riociguat in
- patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)
Riociguat for the treatment of inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (CHEST-1), abstract 1462924
- patients with symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
Riociguat for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (PATENT-1), abstract 1462799
Study abstracts are available online from today.
About Riociguat
Riociguat (BAY 63-2521) is an oral agent being investigated as a new approach to treating different types of pulmonary hypertension. Riociguat is the first member of a novel class of compounds, the stimulators of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). sGC is an enzyme found in the cardiopulmonary system. When nitric oxide (NO) binds to sGC, the enzyme catalyses synthesis of the signalling molecule cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP plays an important role in regulating vascular tone, proliferation, fibrosis, and inflammation.
Pulmonary hypertension is associated with endothelial dysfunction, impaired synthesis of NO and insufficient stimulation of the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway. Riociguat is believed to have a dual mode of action: sensitising sGC to endogenous NO and also directly stimulating sGC independent of NO. With its novel mode of action, riociguat holds promise for PAH, and other forms of PH, such as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, where no pharmacological treatment is approved.
