Hypertension drug Thelin (sitaxsentan) was withdrawn from foreign markets in the EU, Canada, and Australia by manufacturer Pfizer on Friday, the pharmaceutical giant said in a statement on its website.
Sitaxsentan, marketed as Thelin by Pfizer, was found to be linked to life-threatening liver damage in trials, and thus, “Pfizer has concluded that the overall benefit of Thelin no longer outweighs the risk in the general population of PAH patients,” the statement read.
The drug Thelin treats pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition where constricted arteries cause chest pain, loss of breath, and a racing heartbeat; or more seriously, heart failure and death.
Pfizer also announced that it would be ending clinical trials and studies of Thelin.
Doctors are recommended not to prescribe Thelin and patients who currently use the hyptertension drug are advised to consult their physician over alternate medicines.
“Pfizer’s priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of patients, and we are in the process of communicating all of this information to the appropriate medical professionals and regulatory authorities in all regions as quickly as possible,” Dr. Cara Cassino, vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs for Pfizer’s Pulmonary Vascular Disease unit, said in a statement.
Pfizer stock (PFE, NYSE) rose slightly in Friday trading by 26 cents (1.56 percent) to $17.02.
Sitaxsentan, marketed as Thelin by Pfizer, was found to be linked to life-threatening liver damage in trials, and thus, “Pfizer has concluded that the overall benefit of Thelin no longer outweighs the risk in the general population of PAH patients,” the statement read.
The drug Thelin treats pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition where constricted arteries cause chest pain, loss of breath, and a racing heartbeat; or more seriously, heart failure and death.
Pfizer also announced that it would be ending clinical trials and studies of Thelin.
Doctors are recommended not to prescribe Thelin and patients who currently use the hyptertension drug are advised to consult their physician over alternate medicines.
“Pfizer’s priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of patients, and we are in the process of communicating all of this information to the appropriate medical professionals and regulatory authorities in all regions as quickly as possible,” Dr. Cara Cassino, vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs for Pfizer’s Pulmonary Vascular Disease unit, said in a statement.
Pfizer stock (PFE, NYSE) rose slightly in Friday trading by 26 cents (1.56 percent) to $17.02.
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