Macitentan for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Macitentan is a novel dual endothelin receptor antagonist recently approved for the treatment of symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Compared to other endothelin receptor antagonists, in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that macitentan has improved tissue targeting, a longer duration of action and an improved safety profile. Macitentan is available as a once daily oral medication and has been well tolerated in clinical trials. The recently published Study with an Endothelin Receptor Antagonist in PAH to Improve cliNical Outcomes (SERAPHIN), which was the first event-driven trial ever done in PAH, also demonstrated the benefit of macitentan on reducing the likelihood of a composite endpoint of morbidity and mortality events without a significant difference in mortality.