Overview

• The FDA has approved Merck's Winrevair for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare and potentially fatal lung disease.
• Winrevair is the first drug to target the underlying cause of PAH, aiming to improve patients' quality of life by reducing disease progression and mortality.
• The drug, administered as an injection every three weeks, showed significant improvements in exercise capacity and reduced the risk of death in clinical trials.
• Merck acquired the drug through its $11.5 billion purchase of Acceleron Pharma in 2021, marking a significant step in its strategy to focus on rare diseases.
• Winrevair will be available in the U.S. by the end of April, priced at $14,000 per vial, with Merck offering financial assistance programs for eligible patients.