Merck has reported groundbreaking results from a late-stage trial for its drug Winrevair, designed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare and life-threatening lung condition. The study revealed that Winrevair significantly reduced the risk of death, lung transplantation, or disease progression in patients already receiving standard treatments. An independent monitoring committee deemed the results so impactful that they recommended stopping the trial early while allowing patients to continue receiving the drug.
Approved by the FDA earlier this year, Winrevair is a first-of-its-kind activin inhibitor targeting the progression of PAH. Priced at $238,000 annually, the drug has already generated $149 million in sales, though safety concerns related to bleeding risks remain under scrutiny. Analysts highlight the drug's life-saving benefits for severely ill patients as outweighing these risks. PAH affects around 40,000 individuals in the U.S., making this breakthrough a crucial step forward in managing the disease.
