During Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, Ferrer is raising awareness about the significant shortcomings in the current diagnostic and treatment pathways for pulmonary hypertension (PH).
The Spanish pharmaceutical company holds rights to United Therapeutics’ pulmonary hypertension medications, Remodulin and Tyvaso, in Europe and other regions. In its efforts to address this issue, Ferrer funded two studies aimed at gathering insights from patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) and the clinicians who treat them.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, Ferrer emphasized the findings from these studies. One of the studies, published in Pulmonary Circulation in June, featured commentary from an event that included four PH-ILD patients and three primary caregivers. The participants reported facing significant challenges in navigating the healthcare system and obtaining adequate information, which added to their uncertainties about the condition. The authors, including Ferrer employees, noted that these findings highlight the considerable difficulties that rare and complex conditions like PH-ILD present for routine clinical practice outside specialized centers.
Patients expressed experiencing severe disease burdens and unmet medical needs despite recent advancements in treatment options.
Notably, United Therapeutics withdrew its application for Tyvaso approval in Europe in 2010. However, after partnering with Ferrer in 2022, the company plans to work with regulators to establish an appropriate pathway for Tyvaso. The drug has been approved for treating PH-ILD in the U.S. since early 2021.
The second study referenced by Ferrer was published in ERJ Open Research and involved a survey of 55 clinicians treating PH-ILD patients. The findings revealed a significant reliance on off-label treatments and highlighted a substantial unmet need due to the lack of approved therapies. Clinicians suggested that more frequent echocardiogram screenings for interstitial lung disease could enhance the diagnostic process.
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