Treprostinil

Treprostinil is a stable analogue of prostacyclin, a prostaglandin that acts as an anti-thrombotic agent and a potent vasodilator. Prostacyclin analogues are useful in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a disease characterized by abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries between the heart and lungs. PAH leads to right heart failure due to the remodelling of pulmonary arteries, and patients with this condition have a poor prognosis.

Treprostinil binds and activates the prostacyclin receptor, the prostaglandin D2 receptor 1, and the prostaglandin E2 receptor 2. The activation of these receptors leads to the elevation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, which consequently promotes the opening of calcium-activated potassium channels that lead to cell hyperpolarization. This mechanism promotes the direct vasodilation of pulmonary and systemic arterial vascular beds and the inhibition of platelet aggregation. In addition to its direct vasodilatory effects, treprostinil inhibits inflammatory pathways.