New post-hoc analysis of Uptravi shows benefit of early initiation

Actelion, one of the Janssen companies of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), presented new data on its pulmonary drug yesterday at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) conference 2019.

A new post-hoc analysis from the GRIPHON study shows that adding Uptravi (selexipag) versus placebo improved long-term clinical outcomes regardless of time of treatment initiation, and demonstrated an even more pronounced treatment effect when initiated early. The GRIPHON study is the largest randomized, controlled, outcome trial ever conducted in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

“This new analysis reinforces the overall efficacy data for selexipag and provides compelling evidence of the benefits of initiating selexipag early,” said Prof Sean Gaine, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Director of National Pulmonary Hypertension Unit, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. “These data add to the growing evidence supporting early intensification of treatment, which is important when you consider that around a third of PAH patients currently die within five years of diagnosis. Early recognition and prompt treatment of the disease are key to achieving sustained long-term benefits,” he added.