Changes in REVEAL Lite 2 risk status are associated with long-term outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A post-hoc analysis of the GRIPHON study.

BACKGROUND: Mortality risk assessment informs clinical management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) Lite 2 is a simplified risk calculator discriminating 1-year mortality risk. METHODS: This post-hoc analysis of the phase 3 GRIPHON study assessed changes in REVEAL Lite 2 risk score with selexipag versus placebo and whether changes were prognostic or predictive of time to first morbidity/mortality (M/M) event. RESULTS: REVEAL Lite 2 risk category discriminated M/M risk (landmark concordance indices: 0.68-0.76, selexipag; 0.65-0.70, placebo). Across baseline risk categories, hazard ratios supported a lower risk of M/M events with selexipag versus placebo: low, 0.573 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.361-0.908; p = 0.0178); intermediate, 0.423 (95% CI 0.274-0.655; p = 0.0001); and high, 0.711 (9% CI 0.520-0.972; p = 0.0326). Odds ratios for risk improvement were 2.0 (95% CI 1.50-2.65), 1.8 (95% CI 1.38-2.43), and 2.0 (95% CI 1.43-2.72) for selexipag versus placebo at 16, 26, and 52 weeks, respectively (all p < 0.001). REVEAL Lite 2 risk improvement at week 16 explained 19.1% of the treatment effect in all patients and 47.0% in patients with REVEAL Lite 2 baseline risk score of ≥7. CONCLUSIONS: REVEAL Lite 2 can monitor PAH M/M risk and facilitate treatment optimization. Baseline REVEAL Lite 2 risk score was prognostic of M/M risk in patients with PAH and mediates treatment effect up to 47% for those at higher risk. Lower M/M risk with selexipag versus placebo occurred irrespective of baseline risk category (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01106014).

MK-5475, an inhaled soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: the INSIGNIA-PAH study.

BACKGROUND: MK-5475 is an investigational inhaled soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator hypothesised to avoid most side-effects of systemic vasodilation. METHODS: The phase 2 INSIGNIA-PAH (NCT04732221) trial randomised adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on stable background therapy 1:1:1:1 to once-daily dosing with placebo, MK-5475 32 µg, 100 µg or 380 µg via dry powder inhalation for 12 weeks. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to evaluate pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR; primary), 6-min walk distance (6MWD; secondary), additional selected haemodynamic parameters, and safety and tolerability in participants with PAH. RESULTS: 168 participants were randomised to placebo (n=41), MK-5475 32 µg (n=42), 100 µg (n=44), and 380 µg (n=41). Median age was 51 years. Most participants were female (73.8%), diagnosed with idiopathic PAH (63.7%), receiving concomitant phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i; 93.5%), and treated with double or triple combination therapy (85.1%). At week 12, the placebo-corrected changes in PVR by least-squares means were -9.2% (95% CI -21.3%, 2.9%; p=0.068) with 32 µg, -22.0% (95% CI -33.7%, -10.3%; p<0.001) with 100 µg, and -19.9% (95% CI -33.4%, -6.4%; p=0.002) with 380 µg MK-5475. No treatment differences versus placebo were observed in 6MWD. Treatment-related adverse events and serious adverse events were similar across treatment groups. Three participants died: two on placebo and one on MK-5475 100 µg. One participant had symptomatic hypotension and one had haemoptysis (both on MK-5475 100 µg). CONCLUSIONS: In participants with PAH on stable background therapy, including PDE5i, inhaled MK-5475 reduced PVR and was well tolerated, without evidence of systemic side-effects such as hypotension, suggesting a pulmonary selective pharmacodynamic effect.

Treatment algorithm for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension leads to significant impairment in haemodynamics, right heart function, exercise capacity, quality of life and survival. Current therapies have mechanisms of action involving signalling via one of four pathways: endothelin-1, nitric oxide, prostacyclin and bone morphogenetic protein/activin signalling. Efficacy has generally been greater with therapeutic combinations and with parenteral therapy compared with monotherapy or nonparenteral therapies, and maximal medical therapy is now four-drug therapy. Lung transplantation remains an option for selected patients with an inadequate response to therapies.

Initial combination therapy with macitentan and tadalafil in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, with and without cardiac comorbidities.

AIMS: According to current guidelines, initial monotherapy should be considered for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients with cardiopulmonary comorbidities. This analysis of combined data from the TRITON and REPAIR clinical trials, assesses efficacy and safety of initial double combination therapy in patients without vs. with 1-2 cardiac comorbidities. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were combined for patients from TRITON (NCT02558231) and REPAIR (NCT02310672) on initial macitentan and tadalafil double combination therapy (overall set, n = 148) and two subgroups defined as patients without cardiac comorbidities (n = 62) and those with 1-2 cardiac comorbidities (n = 78). Patients with ≥3 comorbidities were excluded from these studies. For the overall set, the median (Q1-Q3) duration of combined macitentan and tadalafil exposure was 513.0 (364.0-778.0) days, and was similar between subgroups. Change from baseline to Week 26 for pulmonary vascular resistance was -55% and -50% for patients without and with 1-2 cardiac comorbidities, respectively; marked improvements in other hemodynamic and functional parameters were also observed, although functional parameters improved to a lesser extent in patients with comorbidities. At Week 26, the majority of patients had improved PAH risk status, according to the non-invasive four-strata and REVEAL Lite 2.0 methods. The safety profile of initial macitentan plus tadalafil combination therapy was consistent with the known profiles of the two drugs, and similar between the subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Initial double combination therapy with macitentan plus tadalafil is efficacious in patients with PAH with 1-2 cardiac comorbidities and those without, with similar safety and tolerability profiles between the two groups.

Seralutinib in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (TORREY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remain high. Activation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor, and mast or stem cell growth factor receptor kinases stimulates inflammatory, proliferative, and fibrotic pathways driving pulmonary vascular remodelling in PAH. Seralutinib, an inhaled kinase inhibitor, targets these pathways. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of seralutinib in patients with PAH receiving standard background therapy. METHODS: The TORREY trial was a phase 2, randomised, multicentre, multinational, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with PAH from 40 hospital and community sites were randomly assigned 1:1 via interactive response technologies to receive seralutinib (60 mg twice daily for 2 weeks, then increased to 90 mg twice daily as tolerated) or placebo by dry powder inhaler twice daily for 24 weeks. Randomisation was stratified by baseline pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR; <800 dyne·s/cm5 and ≥800 dyne·s/cm5). Patients were eligible if classified as WHO Group 1 PH (PAH), WHO Functional Class II or III, with a PVR of 400 dyne·s/cm5 or more, and a 6 min walk distance of between 150 m and 550 m. The primary endpoint was change in PVR from baseline to 24 weeks. Analyses for efficacy endpoints were conducted in randomly assigned patients (intention-to-treat population). Safety analyses included all patients who received the study drug. TORREY was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04456998) and EudraCT (2019-002669-37) and is completed. FINDINGS: From Nov 12, 2020, to April 20, 2022, 151 patients were screened for eligibility, and following exclusions, 86 adults receiving PAH background therapy were randomly assigned to seralutinib (n=44; four male, 40 female) or placebo (n=42; four male, 38 female), and comprised the intention-to-treat population. At baseline, treatment groups were balanced except for a higher representation of WHO Functional Class II patients in the seralutinib group. The least squares mean change from baseline to week 24 in PVR was 21·2 dyne·s/cm5 (95% CI -37·4 to 79·8) for the placebo group and -74·9 dyne·s/cm5 (-139·7 to -10·2) for the seralutinib group. The least squares mean difference between the seralutinib and placebo groups for change in PVR was -96·1 dyne·s/cm5 (95% CI -183·5 to -8·8; p=0·03). The most common treatment-emergent adverse event in both treatment groups was cough: 16 (38%) of 42 patients in the placebo group; 19 (43%) of 44 patients in the seralutinib group. INTERPRETATION: Treatment with inhaled seralutinib significantly decreased PVR, meeting the primary endpoint of the study among patients receiving background therapy for PAH. FUNDING: Gossamer Bio.

Macitentan in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Connective Tissue Disease (CTD-PAH): Real-World Evidence from the Combined OPUS/OrPHeUS Dataset.

INTRODUCTION: Data on real-world clinical practice and outcomes of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with connective tissue disease (CTD-PAH) are scarce. The OPUS/OrPHeUS studies enrolled patients newly initiating macitentan, including those with CTD-PAH. This analysis describes patient characteristics, treatment patterns, outcomes, and safety profiles of patients with CTD-PAH newly initiating macitentan in the US using the OPUS/OrPHeUS combined dataset. METHODS: OPUS was a prospective, US, multicenter, long-term, observational drug registry (April 2014-June 2020). OrPHeUS was a retrospective, US, multicenter medical chart review (October 2013-March 2017). The characteristics, treatment patterns, safety, and outcomes during macitentan treatment of patients with CTD-PAH and its subgroups systemic sclerosis (SSc-PAH), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE-PAH), and mixed CTD (MCTD-PAH) were descriptively compared to patients with idiopathic/heritable PAH (I/HPAH). RESULTS: The combined OPUS/OrPHeUS population included 2498 patients with I/HPAH and 1192 patients with CTD-PAH (708 SSc-PAH; 159 SLE-PAH; 124 MCTD-PAH, and 201 other CTD-PAH etiologies). At macitentan initiation for patients with I/HPAH and CTD-PAH, respectively: 61.2 and 69.3% were in World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC) III/IV; median 6-min walk distance was 289 and 279 m; and 58.1 and 65.2% received macitentan as combination therapy. During follow-up, for patients with I/HPAH and CTD-PAH, respectively: median duration of macitentan exposure observed was 14.0 and 15.8 months; 79.0 and 83.0% experienced an adverse event; Kaplan-Meier estimates (95% confidence limits [CL]) of patients free from all-cause hospitalization at 1 year were 60.3% (58.1, 62.4) and 59.3% (56.1, 62.3); and Kaplan-Meier estimates (95% CL) of survival at 1 year were 90.5% (89.1, 91.7) and 90.6% (88.6, 92.3). CONCLUSIONS: Macitentan was used in clinical practice in patients with CTD-PAH and its subgroups, including as combination therapy. The safety and tolerability profile of macitentan in patients with CTD-PAH was comparable to that of patients with I/HPAH. TRIAL REGISTRATION: OPsumit® Users Registry (OPUS): NCT02126943; Opsumit® Historical Users cohort (OrPHeUS): NCT03197688; www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov Graphical abstract available for this article.

Safety of Macitentan for the Treatment of Portopulmonary Hypertension: Real-World Evidence from the Combined OPUS/OrPHeUS Studies.

INTRODUCTION: Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) carries a worse prognosis than other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Data regarding use of PAH-specific therapies in patients with PoPH are sparse as they are usually excluded from clinical trials. This analysis describes patient characteristics, treatment patterns, outcomes, and safety profiles in patients with PoPH newly initiating macitentan in the USA using the OPUS/OrPHeUS combined dataset. METHODS: OPUS was a prospective, US, multicenter, observational drug registry (April 2014-June 2020); OrPHeUS was a retrospective, US, multicenter chart review (October 2013-March 2017). Additional information regarding patients' liver disease was retrospectively collected for patients with PoPH in OPUS. RESULTS: The OPUS/OrPHeUS dataset included 206 patients with PoPH (median age 58 years; 52.4% female), with baseline cirrhosis and liver test abnormalities reported in 72.8% and 31.6% of patients respectively. Macitentan was initiated as combination therapy in 74.8% of patients and median (Q1, Q3) exposure to macitentan was 11.9 (3.1, 26.0) months. One-year Kaplan-Meier estimates (95% confidence limit, CL) of patients free from all-cause hospitalization and survival were 48.6% (40.7, 56.0) and 82.2% (75.1, 87.4). Of the 96 patients with PoPH in OPUS, 29.2% were classified as in need of liver transplant due to underlying liver disease during the study; transplant waitlist registration was precluded because of PAH severity for 32.1% and 17.9% were transplanted. Hepatic adverse events (HAE) were experienced by 49.0% of patients; the most common being increased bilirubin (16.0%), ascites (7.3%), and hepatic encephalopathy (5.8%); 1.5% and 21.8% of patients discontinued macitentan as a result of HAE and non-hepatic adverse events. CONCLUSION: There were no unexpected safety findings in patients with PoPH treated with macitentan. These data add to the evidence supporting the safety and tolerability of macitentan in patients with PoPH. A graphical abstract is available with this article. TRIAL REGISTRATION: OPsumit® Users Registry (OPUS): NCT02126943; OPsumit® Historical Users cohort (OrPHeUS): NCT03197688; www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov .

Randomized Trial of Macitentan/Tadalafil Single-Tablet Combination Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) combination therapy is recommended for low-/intermediate-risk pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. A fixed-dose combination of the ERA macitentan and PDE5i tadalafil (M/T FDC) in a once-daily, single tablet would simplify treatment. OBJECTIVES: The multicenter, double-blind, adaptive phase 3 A DUE study investigated the efficacy and safety of M/T FDC vs macitentan 10 mg and vs tadalafil 40 mg monotherapies in PAH patients, including treatment-naïve and prior ERA or PDE5i monotherapy-treated patients. METHODS: World Health Organization functional class II-III patients were randomized to M/T FDC, macitentan, or tadalafil depending on their PAH treatment (treatment-naïve, ERA, or PDE5i monotherapy) at baseline. The primary endpoint was change in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) at week 16. RESULTS: In total, 187 patients were randomized to single-tablet M/T FDC (n = 108), macitentan (n = 35), or tadalafil (n = 44). PVR reduction with M/T FDC was significantly greater vs macitentan (29%; geometric mean ratio 0.71; 95% CL: 0.61-0.82; P < 0.0001) and vs tadalafil (28%; geometric mean ratio 0.72; 95% CL: 0.64-0.80; P < 0.0001). Three patients died in the M/T FDC arm (judged unrelated to treatment). Adverse events (AEs) leading to discontinuation, serious AEs, and those of special interest (anemia, hypotension, and edema) were more frequent with M/T FDC. CONCLUSIONS: Macitentan and tadalafil FDC significantly improved PVR vs monotherapies in PAH patients, with a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the individual components. The A DUE study supports M/T FDC as a once-daily, single-tablet combination for initial therapy and escalation to double combination therapy in patients with PAH. (Clinical Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Macitentan and Tadalafil Monotherapies With the Corresponding Fixed-dose Combination Therapy in Subjects With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension [PAH]) [A DUE]; NCT03904693).

Disease characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension treated with selexipag in real-world settings from the SPHERE registry (SelexiPag: tHe usErs dRug rEgistry).

BACKGROUND: Selexipag is an oral prostacyclin receptor agonist, indicated for pulmonary arterial hypertension to delay disease progression and reduce the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension-related hospitalization. SelexiPag: tHe usErs dRug rEgistry (NCT03278002) was a US-based, prospective, real-world registry of selexipag-treated patients. METHODS: Adults with pulmonary hypertension (enrolled 2016-2020) prescribed selexipag were followed for ≤18 months, with data collected at routine clinic visits. Patients were defined as newly or previously initiated if they had started selexipag ≤60 days or >60 days, respectively, before enrollment. RESULTS: The registry included 829 patients (430 newly initiated, 399 previously initiated; 759 with pulmonary arterial hypertension), of whom 55.6% were World Health Organization functional class (FC) 3/4; 57.3% were intermediate or high risk per Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) 2.0. In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, 18-month discontinuation rates for adverse events were 22.0%, 32.0%, and 11.9%, and 18-month survival rates were 89.4%, 84.2%, and 94.5% in the overall, newly, and previously initiated patient populations, respectively. From baseline to month 18, most patients had stable or improved FC and stable or improved REVEAL 2.0 risk category status. Discontinuation for adverse events, hospitalization, and survival were similar regardless of patients' individually tolerated selexipag maintenance dose. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world analysis of patients initiating selexipag, most patients had stable or improved FC and REVEAL 2.0 risk category. Similar to the GRIPHON trial, outcomes with selexipag in this real-world study were comparable across maintenance dose strata, with no new safety signals.

Prognosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with pericardial effusion before and after initiation of parenteral prostacyclin therapy.

Few studies have evaluated the effects of pulmonary arterial hypertension therapies on pericardial effusion. We evaluated hemodynamics, echocardiograms, and outcomes for 119 parenteral prostanoid-treated patients. We discovered an increased frequency of pericardial effusions posttreatment, and that a moderate-large pericardial effusion at initiation, but not at 1st follow-up, was significantly associated with mortality.

Early selexipag initiation and long-term outcomes: insights from randomised controlled trials in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Further understanding of when to initiate therapies in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is important to improve long-term outcomes. Post hoc analyses of GRIPHON (NCT01106014) and exploratory analyses of TRITON (NCT02558231) suggested benefit of early selexipag initiation on long-term outcomes, despite no additional benefit versus initial double combination on haemodynamic and functional parameters in TRITON. Post hoc analyses investigated the effect of early selexipag initiation on disease progression and survival in a large, pooled PAH cohort. Data from newly diagnosed (≤6 months) PAH patients from GRIPHON and TRITON were pooled. Patients on active therapy with selexipag (pooled selexipag group) were compared with those on control therapy with placebo (pooled control group). Disease progression end-points were defined as per the individual studies. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI for time to first disease progression event up to end of double-blind treatment (selexipag/placebo) +7 days and time to all-cause death up to end of study were estimated using Cox regression models. The pooled dataset comprised 649 patients, with 44% on double background therapy. Selexipag reduced the risk of disease progression by 52% versus control (HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.35-0.66). HR for risk of all-cause death was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.46-1.10) for the pooled selexipag versus control group. Sensitivity analyses accounting for the impact of PAH background therapy showed consistent results, confirming the appropriateness of data pooling. These post hoc, pooled analyses build on previous insights, further supporting selexipag use within 6 months of diagnosis, including as part of triple therapy, to delay disease progression.

Safety of macitentan for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension: Real-world experience from the OPsumit® USers Registry (OPUS) and OPsumit® Historical USers cohort (OrPHeUS).

Macitentan is an oral endothelin receptor antagonist for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The OPsumit® USers Registry (OPUS) and the OPsumit® Historical USers cohort (OrPHeUS) medical chart review provide real-world data for patients newly initiating macitentan. This study aims to describe the characteristics, safety profile, and clinical outcomes of PAH patients newly treated with macitentan in the combined OPUS/OrPHeUS data set. OPUS was a prospective, multicenter, long-term, observational drug registry from April 2014 to June 2020. OrPHeUS was a retrospective, US, multicenter chart review: observation period October 2013 to March 2017. All analyses were descriptive. At registry closure in June 2020, the combined population consisted of 5654 patients, of whom 81.9% were diagnosed with PAH. For these 4626 patients, median duration of macitentan exposure observed was 14.5 (Q1 = 5.2, Q3 = 29.0) months; idiopathic PAH (54.8%) was the most common form of PAH; macitentan was initiated as monotherapy (37.9%), or as part of double (48.0%) or triple therapy (14.1%); discontinuation due to nonhepatic/hepatic adverse events occurred in 17.1%/0.3% of patients; 9.9% of patients experienced ≥1 hepatic adverse events; Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that at 1 year 59.9% (95% confidence interval: 58.3, 61.5) of patients were free from hospitalization and survival was 90.4% (89.3, 91.3). This analysis of real-world data from the combined OPUS and OrPHeUS populations demonstrated that macitentan is well tolerated in a large, diverse population of PAH patients, with overall and hepatic safety profiles consistent with previous macitentan clinical trials.

Prognostic Value of Echocardiographic Variables Prior to and Following Initiation of Parenteral Prostacyclin Therapy: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic parameters are used as prognostic markers in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) receiving parenteral (IV or subcutaneous [IV/SC]) prostacyclin therapy. However, data on how posttreatment echocardiographic results associate with outcomes are limited. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are echocardiographic parameters pre- and post-parenteral prostacyclin therapy in patients with PAH associated with long-term outcomes? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with PAH initiated on IV epoprostenol or IV/SC treprostinil therapy between 2007 and 2016 were included and followed up through May 31, 2020. Survival free from transplant was assessed from the time of IV/SC prostacyclin therapy initiation and from first follow-up echocardiogram following at least 90 days of therapy. RESULTS: Patients with PAH initiated on IV/SC prostacyclin therapy (N = 118) were followed up for a median of 7.3 years. Survival was 86%, 79%, and 69% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Follow-up echocardiogram in 101 patients (median, 178 days; interquartile range, 140-273 days) showed improvement in five echocardiographic measures: right ventricular function, right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular diastolic diameter, left ventricular diastolic diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity. TR severity and pericardial effusion were associated with survival from IV/SC therapy initiation, whereas right ventricular diastolic diameter, right atrial (RA) size, TR severity, and inferior vena cava characteristics were associated with survival from first follow-up. In a multivariable analysis incorporating other prognostic measures at first follow-up, walk distance, functional class, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and RA size resulted in the best fit model for survival. INTERPRETATION: Echocardiographic variables improved following IV/SC therapy, and multiple echocardiographic measures associated significantly with survival, particularly when reassessed after at least 90 days of therapy. RA size in particular may be useful in prognostication in follow-up of patients with PAH on IV/SC therapy.

Long-Term Survival, Safety and Tolerability with Selexipag in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Results from GRIPHON and its Open-Label Extension.

INTRODUCTION: In the event-driven GRIPHON randomised-controlled trial, the oral prostacyclin receptor agonist selexipag significantly reduced the risk of disease progression (composite primary endpoint of morbidity/mortality), compared with placebo, in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The ongoing open-label extension study (GRIPHON OL) collects further data on long-term safety, tolerability, and survival of PAH patients treated with selexipag. METHODS: Patients randomised to selexipag or placebo in GRIPHON could enter GRIPHON OL either after experiencing a morbidity event during double-blind treatment or at the end of the study. Patients were followed for adverse events (AE) and survival from selexipag initiation up to 3 days and 30 days after end of treatment, respectively. Data are presented up to a cut-off date of 1 September 2019. RESULTS: Overall, 953 patients in GRIPHON and GRIPHON OL were treated with selexipag. At the time of selexipag initiation, 81.2% of patients were receiving background PAH therapy. Median (min, max) exposure to selexipag was 31.7 months (0, 106), corresponding to a total of 3054.4 patient-years. The most frequently reported AEs were related to known prostacyclin-related effects or underlying disease. There were 305 (32.0%) patients who experienced an AE leading to treatment discontinuation. Survival during GRIPHON and GRIPHON OL was assessed for the 574 patients randomised to selexipag in GRIPHON. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates (95%CI) at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years were 92.0% (89.4, 94.0), 79.3% (75.4, 82.6), 71.2% (66.5, 75.3) and 63.0% (57.4, 68.1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide the longest follow-up period published to date for a PAH therapy. The safety profile of selexipag over this extended treatment period was consistent with that observed in GRIPHON. A large proportion of the population was receiving background therapy at selexipag initiation, providing further insight into the long-term safety of selexipag as part of a combination therapy regimen. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01106014 and NCT01112306.

The impact of comorbidities on selexipag treatment effect in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: insights from the GRIPHON study.

AIMS: The number of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients with comorbidities is increasing and there are limited data on response to PAH-targeted therapies in this population. These post hoc analyses explored the effect of selexipag in PAH patients with cardiovascular comorbidities in the GRIPHON study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Randomized patients (n = 1156) were classified using three methods: (i) by subgroups defined according to previously published comorbidity count and restrictive haemodynamic criteria: Subgroup A (<3 comorbidities and haemodynamic criteria met; n = 962) and Subgroup B (≥3 comorbidities and/or haemodynamic criteria not met; n = 144); comorbidities included body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 , essential hypertension, diabetes, history of coronary artery disease; (ii) by number of comorbidities, with addition of atrial fibrillation (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5); (iii) by presence of individual comorbidities. Selexipag to placebo hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for morbidity/mortality (primary composite endpoint) were estimated using Cox regression adjusting selexipag effect for baseline covariates. Approximately half of the patients in GRIPHON (n = 584; 50.5%) had comorbidities. Selexipag reduced the risk of a morbidity/mortality event compared with placebo in both Subgroup A (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.53, 0.82) and Subgroup B (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26, 0.96), with no evidence of an inconsistent treatment effect between subgroups (interaction p = 0.432). Consistent results were observed in analyses by number and by specific type of comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Selexipag reduces the risk of a morbidity/mortality event vs. placebo irrespective of patient comorbidity status, suggesting that comorbidity status does not influence the treatment effect of selexipag.

Three- Versus Two-Drug Therapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), there are no data comparing initial triple oral therapy with initial double oral therapy. OBJECTIVES: TRITON (The Efficacy and Safety of Initial Triple Versus Initial Dual Oral Combination Therapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; NCT02558231), a multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 3b study, evaluated initial triple (macitentan, tadalafil, and selexipag) versus initial double (macitentan, tadalafil, and placebo) oral therapy in newly diagnosed, treatment-naive patients with PAH. METHODS: Efficacy was assessed until the last patient randomized completed week 26 (end of main observation period). The primary endpoint was change in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) at week 26. RESULTS: Patients were assigned to initial triple (n = 123) or initial double therapy (n = 124). At week 26, both treatment strategies reduced PVR compared with baseline (by 54% and 52%), with no significant difference between groups (ratio of geometric means: 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.86-1.07; P = 0.42). Six-minute walk distance and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide improved by week 26, with no difference between groups. Risk for disease progression (to end of main observation period) was reduced with initial triple versus initial double therapy (hazard ratio: 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-1.09). Most common adverse events with initial triple therapy included headache, diarrhea, and nausea. By the end of the main observation period, 2 patients in the initial triple and 9 in the initial double therapy groups had died. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with newly diagnosed PAH, both treatment strategies markedly reduced PVR by week 26, with no significant difference between groups (primary endpoint not met). Exploratory analyses suggested a possible signal for improved long-term outcomes with initial triple versus initial double oral therapy.

The United States Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry: Protocol for a Prospective, Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare sequela of acute pulmonary embolism that is treatable when recognized. Awareness of this disease has increased with recent advancements in therapeutic options, but delays in diagnosis remain common, and diagnostic and treatment guidelines are often not followed. Data gathered from international registries have improved our understanding of CTEPH, but these data may not be applicable to the US population owing to differences in demographics and medical practice patterns. OBJECTIVE: The US CTEPH Registry (US-CTEPH-R) was developed to provide essential information to better understand the demographics, risk factors, evaluation, and treatment of CTEPH in the United States, as well as the short- and long-term outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical therapies in the modern treatment era. METHODS: Thirty sites throughout the United States enrolled 750 subjects in this prospective, longitudinal, observational registry of patients newly diagnosed with CTEPH. Enrollment criteria included a mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25 mmHg by right heart catheterization and radiologic confirmation of CTEPH by a multidisciplinary adjudication committee. Following enrollment, subjects were followed biannually until the conclusion of the study. Quality of life surveys were administered at enrollment and biannually, and all other testing was at the discretion of the treating clinician. Details regarding surgical therapy, balloon pulmonary angioplasty, and medical therapy were collected at enrollment and at follow-up, as well as information related to health care utilization and survival. RESULTS: Data from this registry will improve understanding of the demographics, risk factors, and treatment patterns of patients with CTEPH, and the longitudinal impact of therapies on quality of life, health care utilization, and survival. CONCLUSIONS: This manuscript details the methodology and design of the first large, prospective, longitudinal registry of patients with CTEPH in the United States. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02429284; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02429284. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/25397.