Tracleer: PAH for the course

Despite missing the primary endpoint in its Phase IIIb Breathe-2 trial, Actelion Ltd. believes the data will not adversely alter physician prescribing habits for its Tracleer bosentan pulmonary arterial hypertension drug. Instead, the company expects that the data will increase the confidence of physicians who already manage certain PAH patients by combining Tracleer with Flolan epoprostenol.

Data from ATLN's 33-patient Breathe-2 trial showed that the combination missed the primary endpoint of significantly improved total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPR) compared to Flolan alone in patients with severe PAH. ATLN, which did not disclose the data, said the combination was well tolerated...