Seralutinib effective in managing pulmonary arterial hypertension: Lancet

In the field of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), where morbidity and mortality rates remain alarmingly high, a new inhaled drug can greatly enhance the outcomes in patients. A recent study called as the TORREY trial unveiled promising results regarding the efficacy and safety of a new inhaled drug, the Seralutinib, in managing this life-threatening condition. The findings were published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 

The TORREY trial revealed that Seralutinib, an inhaled kinase inhibitor, targets the crucial pathways involved in PAH progression. Seralutinib disrupts inflammatory, proliferative and fibrotic pathways driving pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH by inhibiting platelet-derived growth factor receptor, the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor and mast or stem cell growth factor receptor kinases.

This phase 2, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled a total of 86 adult patients with PAH from various hospital and community sites. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either Seralutinib or a placebo via dry powder inhaler over a span of 24 weeks. The patients were already receiving standard background therapy for PAH. The primary endpoint of the trial was the change in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) from baseline to 24 weeks.

The results observed that patients treated with Seralutinib expressed a significant reduction in PVR when compared to the patients receiving the placebo. Also, the least squares mean difference in PVR change between the Seralutinib and placebo groups was clinically significant at -96.1 dyne·s/cm5 (p=0.03). While generally well-tolerated, the most common treatment-emergent adverse event in both groups was cough which was reported in 38% of the placebo group and 43% of the Seralutinib group.

These findings hold profound benefits for the management and treatment of PAH. This trial offers hope for patients with this debilitating condition by demonstrating the efficacy of inhaled Seralutinib in reducing PVR. The safety profile of the drug suggests its potential as a valuable addition to existing PAH therapies. Further investigation and development will guide forward this innovative therapy against pulmonary arterial hypertension by offering renewed prospects for patients throughout the globe.

Source:

Frantz, R. P., McLaughlin, V. V., Sahay, S., Escribano Subías, P., Zolty, R. L., Benza, R. L., Channick, R. N., Chin, K. M., Hemnes, A. R., Howard, L. S., Sitbon, O., Vachiéry, J.-L., Zamanian, R. T., Cravets, M., Roscigno, R. F., Mottola, D., Osterhout, R., Bruey, J.-M., Elman, E., … Ghofrani, H.-A. (2024). Seralutinib in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (TORREY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial. In The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-2600(24)00072-9