Sotatracept, a groundbreaking drug that has been approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is the first treatment to specifically target pulmonary embolism. This disease primarily affects young people, particularly women, with the peak incidence occurring between the ages of 30-40. However, it can also occur at later ages.
For a decade, there were no advancements in the treatment of pulmonary embolism, with existing treatments mainly focused on alleviating symptoms. The FDA’s approval of sotatracept marks a significant improvement for patients with pulmonary hypertension, offering better survival rates, delaying disease progression, and reducing the risk of worsening events or death by approximately 84%.
Sotatracept works by inhibiting the component “activin” to change the mechanism of the cells that drive the disease. Patients with pulmonary embolism are categorized based on function levels and risk levels, ranging from 1 (highest function) to 4 (lowest function). This new drug provides new hope for patients who have not responded well to existing treatments.
According to Prof. Mordechai Kramer, director of the pulmonary department at Blinson Hospital, pulmonary hypertension is a serious and life-threatening disease. Sotatracept’s approval is an important milestone in the fight against this deadly condition. The Ministry of Health usually approves drugs that have been approved by the FDA after reviewing the research findings submitted by