Treprostinil, sold under the brand names Remodulin for infusion, Orenitram for oral, and Tyvaso for inhalation, is a vasodilator that is used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.[6]

Treprostinil was approved for use in the United States in May 2002.[7]

Medical uses

Treprostinil is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in people with NYHA Class II-IV symptoms to diminish symptoms associated with exercise.[1]

Adverse effects

  • Since treprostinil is a vasodilator, its antihypertensive effect may be compounded by other medications that affect the blood pressure, including calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and other vasodilating agents.[8]
  • Because of treprostinil's inhibiting effect on platelet aggregation, there is an increased risk of bleeding, especially among patients who are also taking anticoagulants.[8]
  • It is not known whether treprostinil is excreted in breast milk. Caution is advised when administering this medication to nursing women.
  • Caution is advised when administering treprostinil to patients who have impaired kidney or liver function.[8]

Common side effects depending on route of administration:

  • 85% of patients report pain or other reaction at the infusion site.[8]

Administration

For infusion

Treprostinil may be administered as a continuous subcutaneous infusion or continuous intravenous infusion.[1]

Inhaled form

The inhaled form of treprostinil was approved by the FDA in July 2009, and is sold under the brand name Tyvaso.[3][4]

Oral form

The oral form of treprostinil was approved by the FDA in December 2013, and is sold under the brand name Orenitram.[2]

History

Main article: Prostacyclin § History

During the 1960s a UK research team, headed by Professor John Vane began to explore the role of prostaglandins in anaphylaxis and respiratory diseases. Working with a team from the Royal College of Surgeons, Vane discovered that aspirin and other oral anti-inflammatory drugs worked by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins. This finding opened the door to a broader understanding of the role of prostaglandins in the body.

Vane and a team from the Wellcome Foundation had identified a lipid mediator they called “PG-X,” which inhibited platelet aggregation. PG-X, which later would become known as prostacyclin, was 30 times more potent than any other known anti-aggregatory agent.[citation needed]

By 1976, Vane and fellow researcher Salvador Moncada published the first paper on prostacyclin, in the scientific journal Nature.[9]

Treprostinil (Remodulin) was approved for use in the United States in May 2002,[1][7] and again in July 2018.[10] Tyvaso, the inhaled form of treprostinil, was approved for use in the United States in July 2009.[11] Orenitram was approved in December 2013.[12]

Treprostinil (Trepulmix) was approved for use in the European Union in April 2020.[5]

Research

Treprostinil therapy may be effective in treating Degos disease.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Remodulin- treprostinil injection, solution; Sterile diluent for remodulin- water injection, solution". DailyMed. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Orenitram- treprostinil tablet, extended release; Orenitram- treprostinil kit". DailyMed. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Tyvaso- treprostinil inhalant". DailyMed. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Tyvaso DPI- treprostinil inhalant; Tyvaso DPI- treprostinil kit". DailyMed. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Trepulmix EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. ^ Torres F, Rubin LJ (January 2013). "Treprostinil for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension". Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy. 11 (1): 13–25. doi:10.1586/erc.12.160. PMID 23259441. S2CID 29661141.
  7. ^ a b "Drug Approval Package: Remodulin (Treprostinil Sodium) NDA #021272". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 24 December 1999. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d Kumar P, Thudium E, Laliberte K, Zaccardelli D, Nelsen A (December 2016). "A Comprehensive Review of Treprostinil Pharmacokinetics via Four Routes of Administration". Clinical Pharmacokinetics. 55 (12): 1495–1505. doi:10.1007/s40262-016-0409-0. PMC 5107196. PMID 27286723.
  9. ^ Moncada S, Gryglewski R, Bunting S, Vane JR (October 1976). "An enzyme isolated from arteries transforms prostaglandin endoperoxides to an unstable substance that inhibits platelet aggregation". Nature. 263 (5579): 663–665. Bibcode:1976Natur.263..663M. doi:10.1038/263663a0. PMID 802670. S2CID 4279030.
  10. ^ "Drug Approval Package: Remodulin". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 7 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Drug Approval Package: Tyvaso (Treprostinil) Inhalation Solution NDA #022387". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 24 December 1999. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Drug Approval Package: Orenitram (Treprostinil) Extended Release Tablets NDA #203496". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 24 December 1999. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. ^ Shapiro LS, Toledo-Garcia AE, Farrell JF (April 2013). "Effective treatment of malignant atrophic papulosis (Köhlmeier-Degos disease) with treprostinil--early experience". Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 8: 52. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-8-52. PMC 3636001. PMID 23557362.

Further reading