Pulmonary embolism is a rare disease that primarily affects young people, particularly women. The peak incidence occurs between the ages of 30-40, but it can also occur at later ages. Patients with pulmonary embolism are categorized based on function levels and risk levels, ranging from 1 (highest function) to 4 (lowest function).
For a decade, there were no significant advancements in the treatment of pulmonary embolism, with existing treatments mainly focused on alleviating symptoms. However, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a groundbreaking drug called sotatracept. This is the first drug of its kind to treat the disease itself rather than just symptoms.
Sotatracept works by inhibiting a unique component called “activin” to change the mechanism of the cells that drive the disease. This approval marks a significant improvement for patients with pulmonary hypertension, offering better survival rates, delaying disease progression, and reducing the risk of worsening events or death by approximately 84%.
Professor Mordechai Kramer, director of the pulmonary department at Blinson Hospital, said that pulmonary hypertension is a serious and life-threatening disease. Sotatracept provides new hope for patients who have not responded well to existing treatments. The Ministry of Health usually approves drugs that have been approved by the FDA after reviewing the research findings submitted by the company.
The FDA’s approval of sotatracept represents a major breakthrough in treating this rare but debilitating condition. With this new drug on offer, patients with pulmonary hypertension can now look forward to improved outcomes and better quality of life.
