The National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) is set to incorporate sotatercept (Winrevair) into its treatment regimen for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare condition affecting approximately one in 5,000 Singaporeans. This makes Singapore the first country in Asia to approve the drug.
A New Hope for PAH Treatment
According to James Yip, executive director at NUHCS, sotatercept represents a significant advancement in PAH treatment. "Over the last 20 years, we’ve only had three main classes of medication for pulmonary hypertension," Yip stated. "This year, Singapore will gain access to a proven fourth-line drug that’s set to enter the market soon — sotatercept."
Winrevair, an injectable compound administered every three weeks, aims to alleviate high blood pressure resulting from constricted lung arteries. The cost per vial ranges from $3,700 to $6,730 (S$5,000 to S$9,000) based on means testing.
Early Detection and Diagnosis
With no definitive cure for PAH currently available, early detection remains crucial. The symptoms of PAH, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and leg swelling, are often mistaken for less severe conditions, leading to delayed diagnosis. Globally, the average time to diagnosis is 1.5 to 2 years after symptom onset; in Singapore, it is approximately one year.
To improve diagnostic accuracy and speed, NUHCS is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in analyzing heart ultrasound images. "Handheld echocardiography with cloud-based AI diagnosis devices is now available," Yip explained. "They help individuals without prior training learn how to perform heart scans in less than a week, compared with the one year it usually takes."
Ongoing Research and Collaboration
NUHCS actively participates in global clinical trials for PAH treatments. "Since around 2005, we’ve been conducting clinical trials," Yip noted. "To date, we’ve completed about 14 to 15 global trials. We ensure that we have at least two or three ongoing every year."
NUHCS also maintains strong regional connections through organizations like the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute and the PAH Asia Pacific consortium, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among specialists across the region.
