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The prostacyclin pathway is among the 3 therapeutic pathways for the treatment of PAH1-3

Targeting multiple pathogenic
pathways is now standard of care4

  • Endothelin pathway1
  • Nitric oxide pathway2
  • Prostacyclin pathway3

Overproduction of endothelial vasoconstrictors, such as endothelin-1, and underproduction of vasodilators, such as nitric oxide and prostacyclin, are associated with PAH3,5,6

Orenitram is an oral prostacyclin-class therapy7

Vessel Affected by PAH3,7
Orenitram mechanism of action

How Orenitram’s mechanism of action targets 3 of the pathologic changes that occur in PAH3,7

1

Vasoconstriction

Orenitram directly dilates pulmonary and systemic arterial vascular beds

2

Platelet aggregation

Orenitram inhibits platelet aggregation

3

Smooth muscle proliferation

Orenitram inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation

Important Safety Information

Contraindications

  • Avoid use of Orenitram in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh Class C) due to increases in systemic exposure.

Warnings and Precautions

  • Abrupt discontinuation or sudden large reductions in dosage of Orenitram may result in worsening of PAH symptoms.
  • The Orenitram tablet shell does not dissolve. In patients with diverticulosis, Orenitram tablets can lodge in a diverticulum.

Adverse Reactions

  • In the 12-week, placebo-controlled, monotherapy study, and an event-driven, placebo-controlled, combination therapy study, adverse reactions that occurred at rates at least 5% higher on Orenitram than on placebo included headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flushing, pain in jaw, pain in extremity, hypokalemia, abdominal discomfort, and upper abdominal pain.

Drug Interactions

  • Co-administration of Orenitram and the CYP2C8 enzyme inhibitor gemfibrozil increases exposure to treprostinil; therefore, Orenitram dosage reduction may be necessary in these patients.

Specific Populations

  • Animal reproductive studies with Orenitram have shown an adverse effect on the fetus. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with Orenitram in pregnant women.
  • It is not known whether treprostinil is excreted in human milk or if it affects the breastfed infant or milk production.
  • Safety and effectiveness of Orenitram in pediatric patients have not been established.
  • Use of Orenitram in patients aged 65 years and over demonstrated slightly higher absolute and relative adverse event rates compared to younger patients. Caution should be used when selecting a dose for geriatric patients.
  • There is a marked increase in the systemic exposure to treprostinil in hepatically impaired patients.

Indication

Orenitram is a prostacyclin mimetic indicated for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to delay disease progression and to improve exercise capacity. The studies that established effectiveness included predominately patients with WHO functional class II-III symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (66%) or PAH associated with connective tissue disease (26%).

OREISIhcpOCT19

Please see Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for Orenitram.

For additional information, call 1-877-UNITHER (1-877-864-8437).

PAH=pulmonary arterial hypertension.

References: 1. Humbert M, Sitbon O, Simonneau G. Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(14):1425-1436. 2. Sitbon O, Morrell N. Pathways in pulmonary arterial hypertension: the future is here. Eur Respir Rev. 2012;21(126):321-327. 3. Del Pozo R, Gonzalez IH, Escribano-Subias P. The prostacyclin pathway in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a clinical review. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2017;11(6):491-503. 4. Galiè N, Channick RN, Frantz RP, et al. Risk stratification and medical therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Eur Respir J. 2019;53(1):1801889. 5. Rabinovitch M. Molecular pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. J Clin Invest. 2012;122(12):4306-4313. 6. Giaid A, Yanagisawa M, Langleben D, et al. Expression of endothelin-1 in the lungs of patients with pulmonary hypertension. N Engl J Med. 1993;328(24):1732-1739. 7. Orenitram [package insert]. Research Triangle Park, NC: United Therapeutics Corporation; 2019.

The information contained in this section of the site is clinical in nature and specifically created for healthcare professionals.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications

  • Avoid use of Orenitram in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh Class C) due to increases in systemic exposure.

Warnings and Precautions

  • Abrupt discontinuation or sudden large reductions in dosage of Orenitram may result in worsening of PAH symptoms.
  • The Orenitram tablet shell does not dissolve. In patients with diverticulosis, Orenitram tablets can lodge in a diverticulum.

Adverse Reactions

  • In the 12-week, placebo-controlled, monotherapy study, and an event-driven, placebo-controlled, combination therapy study, adverse reactions that occurred at rates at least 5% higher on Orenitram than on placebo included headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flushing, pain in jaw, pain in extremity, hypokalemia, abdominal discomfort, and upper abdominal pain.

Drug Interactions

  • Co-administration of Orenitram and the CYP2C8 enzyme inhibitor gemfibrozil increases exposure to treprostinil; therefore, Orenitram dosage reduction may be necessary in these patients.

Specific Populations

  • Animal reproductive studies with Orenitram have shown an adverse effect on the fetus. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with Orenitram in pregnant women.
  • It is not known whether treprostinil is excreted in human milk or if it affects the breastfed infant or milk production.
  • Safety and effectiveness of Orenitram in pediatric patients have not been established.
  • Use of Orenitram in patients aged 65 years and over demonstrated slightly higher absolute and relative adverse event rates compared to younger patients. Caution should be used when selecting a dose for geriatric patients.
  • There is a marked increase in the systemic exposure to treprostinil in hepatically impaired patients.

Indication

Orenitram is a prostacyclin mimetic indicated for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to delay disease progression and to improve exercise capacity. The studies that established effectiveness included predominately patients with WHO functional class II-III symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (66%) or PAH associated with connective tissue disease (26%).

OREISIhcpOCT19

Please see Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for Orenitram.

For additional information, call 1-877-UNITHER (1-877-864-8437).