Singapore: Phase III PATENT-1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) trial evaluating its investigational drug riociguat in both treatment-naive patients and those pre-treated with an endothelin receptor antagonist or an oral, inhaled or subcutaneous prostanoid by Bayer HealthCare has met its primary endpoint. This demonstrates a statistically significant improvement in the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) with patients treated with riociguat showing an improvement of 36 meters.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), one of the five types of PH, is a rare and lifethreatening disease characterized by elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries.

"The six-minute walk distance test is a well-validated clinical measure in patients with PAH, and therefore, the results of the PATENT-1 trial are encouraging," said Professor Hossein Ardeschir Ghofrani of University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Germany and principal investigator of the PATENT study. "These data from the PATENT study suggest that riociguat may be a potential treatment option both for patients who have never been treated for PAH as well as for those who have received prior treatment."

"New treatment options are needed for people living with PAH," Dr Pamela Cyrus, VP and head, US Medical Affairs, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. "Bayer HealthCare is committed to addressing the unmet needs of pulmonary hypertension patients by developing innovative medicines."