A decade of no progress in the treatment of pulmonary embolism has come to an end with the approval of the drug sotatracept by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is the first time that a drug has been approved globally to treat the disease itself, rather than just alleviate symptoms. The unique mechanism of action of sotatracept inhibits the component “activin,” which changes the way cells drive the disease.
Sotatracept offers significant improvements over existing treatments, with survival rates increasing, disease progression being delayed, and the risk of worsening disease or death being reduced by approximately 84%. The Ministry of Health typically approves drugs after receiving research findings from companies.
Prof. Mordechai Kramer, director of the pulmonary department at Blinson Hospital, highlights that pulmonary hypertension is a serious disease with a significant risk to life. Sotatracept brings advancements to patients who have not found balance with existing treatments.
