The prostacyclin pathway is among the 3 therapeutic pathways for the treatment of PAH1-3
Targeting multiple pathogenic
pathways is now standard of care4
- Endothelin pathway1
- Nitric oxide pathway2
- Prostacyclin pathway3
Overproduction of endothelial vasoconstrictors, such as endothelin-1, and underproduction of vasodilators, such as nitric oxide and prostacyclin, are associated with PAH3,5,6
Orenitram is an oral prostacyclin-class therapy7
How Orenitram’s mechanism of action targets 3 of the pathologic changes that occur in PAH3,7
Orenitram directly dilates pulmonary and systemic arterial vascular beds
Orenitram inhibits platelet aggregation
Smooth muscle proliferation
Orenitram inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation
Important Safety Information
- Avoid use of Orenitram in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh Class C) due to increases in systemic exposure.
Warnings and Precautions
- Abrupt discontinuation or sudden large reductions in dosage of Orenitram may result in worsening of PAH symptoms.
- The Orenitram tablet shell does not dissolve. In patients with diverticulosis, Orenitram tablets can lodge in a diverticulum.
- In the 12-week, placebo-controlled, monotherapy study, and an event-driven, placebo-controlled, combination therapy study, adverse reactions that occurred at rates at least 5% higher on Orenitram than on placebo included headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flushing, pain in jaw, pain in extremity, hypokalemia, abdominal discomfort, and upper abdominal pain.
- Co-administration of Orenitram and the CYP2C8 enzyme inhibitor gemfibrozil increases exposure to treprostinil; therefore, Orenitram dosage reduction may be necessary in these patients.
- Animal reproductive studies with Orenitram have shown an adverse effect on the fetus. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with Orenitram in pregnant women.
- It is not known whether treprostinil is excreted in human milk or if it affects the breastfed infant or milk production.
- Safety and effectiveness of Orenitram in pediatric patients have not been established.
- Use of Orenitram in patients aged 65 years and over demonstrated slightly higher absolute and relative adverse event rates compared to younger patients. Caution should be used when selecting a dose for geriatric patients.
- There is a marked increase in the systemic exposure to treprostinil in hepatically impaired patients.
Orenitram is a prostacyclin mimetic indicated for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to delay disease progression and to improve exercise capacity. The studies that established effectiveness included predominately patients with WHO functional class II-III symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (66%) or PAH associated with connective tissue disease (26%).
PAH=pulmonary arterial hypertension.