Macitentan for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension in children

Macitentan is in clinical development for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in children. PAH is a rare disorder in which there is severe narrowing of the arteries of the lungs. More pressure is needed to force blood through the narrowed artery that leads to high blood pressure in the lungs. Common symptoms of PAH are shortness of breath, fainting or feeling faint, dizziness, chest pain and a rapid heart rate. There is currently no cure for PAH, and few NICE recommended treatments available for paediatric patients with PAH. There is an unmet need for effective treatments options for these patients.