UAE—The Department of Health—Abu Dhabi (DoH) has made a significant stride in healthcare innovation by introducing an innovative medication for patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

This makes Abu Dhabi the first emirate in the region to offer such a treatment, marking an important advancement in patient care.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare but serious condition that affects the blood vessels in the lungs, leading to increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries.

Over time, this can put immense strain on the heart and lungs, significantly impacting the quality of life.

WINREVAIR, the new medication introduced by DoH, is a game-changer in managing PAH.

Administered via subcutaneous injection every three weeks, WINREVAIR can be easily self-administered by patients or caregivers under medical supervision.

 This convenient method of delivery ensures that patients can manage their condition more independently.

WINREVAIR works by targeting specific signaling pathways that contribute to the abnormal growth of cells in the blood vessels of the lungs.

By inhibiting these pathways, it helps reduce vascular narrowing, which in turn improves blood flow and eases strain on the cardiovascular system.

The introduction of WINREVAIR is a crucial step in improving outcomes for PAH patients, particularly when used alongside other standard treatments.

 It has been shown to reduce the risk of both fatal and non-fatal clinical worsening by up to 84 percent in clinical studies.

These studies, approved by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), also highlight WINREVAIR’s positive impact on patients’ exercise capacity and pulmonary vascular resistance.

When combined with existing treatments, these benefits suggest that WINREVAIR could potentially extend the average life expectancy of PAH patients by more than ten years.

The first batch of WINREVAIR, developed by MSD—a leading global biopharmaceutical company—arrived in Abu Dhabi this month, bringing new hope to those affected by this debilitating condition.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension affects between 15 to 60 people per million globally, with women representing 70 to 80 percent of cases.

 It is most common among individuals aged 50 to 65, making the availability of WINREVAIR a critical development for improving health outcomes in this patient group. 

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