Clinical Trials Spotlight - PULSAR Study

Principal Investigator, Vallerie McLaughlin, M.D. is currently working on the Phase 2 PULSAR study supported by the HVB CTSU. PULSAR is looking to compare Sotatercept versus placebo in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is a rare condition resulting from obstruction of the small arteries in the lung, causing high blood pressure. This condition impacts fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. 

The goal of this study is to determine if Sotatercept will improve the patient’s quality of life and will evaluate the changes in the patient’s pulmonary vascular resistance, change in distance of a six-minute walk, responses for quality of life questionnaires, echocardiographic parameters, and safety. Sotatercept is intended to fix issues in the molecular signaling that occur in the genetic and spontaneous forms of the disease. 

“There is no known cure for PAH, and many patients diagnosed have a poor prognosis,” said Dr. McLaughlin. “We are hopeful that Sotatercept, which has a novel mechanism of action targeting the BMPR2 pathway, will have the ability to become a disease-modifying therapy.”

To learn more, click here.