The company received European Union marketing authorization for Thelin in August 2006. Thelin is the first selective endothelin A receptor antagonist and the first once-daily oral treatment available for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Endothelin receptor antagonists may prove to be effective in the treatment of a variety of diseases where the regulation of vascular constriction is important. Highly selective endothelin A receptor antagonism has been shown to increase blood flow and reverse vasoconstriction in human clinical pharmacology studies.
“As a once-daily oral therapy, Thelin may provide PAH patients with effective symptom management in a convenient, non-invasive route of administration,” said Anco Boonstra, pulmonologist, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam.