Bayer HealthCare hypertension drug shows benefits in trial

Bayer HealthCare has highlighted data from two pivotal global Phase III studies that demonstrates the benefits of its pulmonary hypertension therapy riociguat.

Results published in the New England Journal of Medicine have confirmed the clinical efficacy and good safety and tolerability profile of the oral investigational drug in two life-threatening pulmonary hypertension indications, thus aiding Bayer's efforts to secure approval for the drug.

The Chest-1 trial showed that riociguat can help patients suffering from chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, while Patent-1 demonstrated its efficacy in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Riociguat was submitted for regulatory approval in the US and Europe earlier this year.

Principal investigator Professor Ardeschir Ghofrani of the University Hospital Giessen and Marburg said: "The extent and consistency of improvements across both the primary and the multiple secondary endpoints as shown in the treatment with riociguat are impressive."

Earlier this month, Bayer HealthCare announced positive data from Alsympca, a pivotal phase III trial of its new prostate cancer therapy radium 223 dichloride.