PAH Treatment: Safe Cell-Based Therapy Shows Promise
- A Cedars-Sinai study indicates that infusions of heart-derived cells are safe for individuals battling pulmonary arterial hypertension, a condition marked by high blood pressure in the lung's blood...
- The Phase I clinical trial, published in eBioMedicine, a Lancet journal, explored a novel approach to combatting this rare disease, which affects fewer than 100 people per million...
- Current treatments focus on widening lung blood vessels, but frequently enough fail to address the underlying mechanisms causing high pulmonary pressure.
A groundbreaking Cedars-Sinai study reveals that cell therapy using heart-derived cells shows promise in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe form of lung disease. The Phase I clinical trial indicates that these infusions are safe for individuals struggling with this condition. Researchers observed encouraging signs of improved cardiopulmonary health in patients receiving cardiosphere-derived cells (cdcs), with better right ventricle function and increased walking distance.Current treatments ofen fall short,but this novel approach targets the underlying mechanisms of high pulmonary pressure. The ALPHA study, published in eBioMedicine, highlights a potential turning point for individuals affected by this condition. News Directory 3 is watching closely. The study’s findings motivate exploring further studies of repeated cell therapy infusions. Discover what’s next for PAH treatment!
Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Pulmonary Hypertension Role
Updated June 16, 2025
A Cedars-Sinai study indicates that infusions of heart-derived cells are safe for individuals battling pulmonary arterial hypertension, a condition marked by high blood pressure in the lung’s blood vessels. This form of hypertension disproportionately affects middle-aged women.
The Phase I clinical trial, published in eBioMedicine, a Lancet journal, explored a novel approach to combatting this rare disease, which affects fewer than 100 people per million and has an average life expectancy of about 6.2 years post-diagnosis, even with treatment.
Current treatments focus on widening lung blood vessels, but frequently enough fail to address the underlying mechanisms causing high pulmonary pressure. This can lead to right ventricle dysfunction, impacting blood flow to the lungs.
Cedars-Sinai researchers are exploring the use of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), first developed by Dr. Eduardo Marbán, to target the biological processes involved in pulmonary arterial hypertension. These cells,derived from human heart tissue,have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties in previous trials,including those for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The ALPHA study involved two phases. In the first, six patients received CDC infusions into their lungs, with dosages of either 50 million or 100 million cells. The second phase involved randomizing 10 patients to receive 100 million CDCs and another 10 to receive a placebo. All participants were already on combination medications for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
For 12 months, researchers monitored participants, finding no adverse effects related to the infusions.While the study primarily assessed safety, investigators noted encouraging signs of improved cardiopulmonary health in the 16 patients who received CDC infusions. These patients showed improved right ventricle function and, two months post-infusion, could walk farther in a six-minute test compared to the placebo group.
Michael I. Lewis, MD, director of Respiratory Care Services at Cedars-Sinai, emphasized the safety and feasibility of this approach for pulmonary arterial hypertension. “The most importent takeaway is that this approach is safe and feasible to do in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension,” Lewis said.”These are encouraging exploratory findings that motivate moving on to more advanced studies.”
what’s next
Future trials are planned to investigate the impact of repeated CDC infusions on patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.