The clinical study included patients at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg and Örebro University Hospital. The researchers studied central hemodynamics, including the calculation of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). The primary endpoint of the placebo-controlled study was to assess the effect on PVR at different doses of the patented drug candidate Supernitro (PDNO) and thereby determine if it effectively can dilate blood vessels in the lungs, acting as a pulmonary vasodilator. Secondary endpoints included evaluating whether Supernitro selectively dilates pulmonary vessels more than those in the rest of the body and assessing safety and tolerability. The study was conducted in 12 patients with postoperative acute pulmonary hypertension (APH), a potentially life-threatening condition.

Coordinating investigator, Professor Sven-Erik Ricksten at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, comments:
"I am pleased to confirm that PDNO is a potent pulmonary vasodilator in patients undergoing heart surgery. Currently, lung-selective vasodilation can only be achieved by inhaling vasodilating substances, which is cumbersome and inefficacious for many patients. Developing an effective intravenous drug like Supernitro would simplify treatment and increase availability for critically ill APH patients."

An important positive outcome among the secondary endpoints was a dose-related significant reduction in pulmonary versus systemic vascular resistance, the so-called PVR/SVR ratio, in 11 of 12 patients, confirming lung-selective action. Data evaluation is ongoing, and the full results from the study will later be presented at a scientific meeting.

"I am very pleased with the results so far," says Christofer Adding, Attgeno's Chief Medical Officer, and continues, "we can now take the next step in our journey to help patients with the severe condition of acute pulmonary hypertension. Even though "Attgeno’s lead indication is the APH segment, we are in addition exploring other indications where targeted delivery of NO is vital.

"Attgeno has a unique platform for development of new nitric oxide (NO)-donating molecules”, says Claes Frostell, Professor of Anesthesiology at Karolinska Institutet and inventor of inhaled NO, and explains “NO is a gaseous signaling substance naturally produced in the body, but levels of NO decrease with age and disease. Supernitro has an ultra- short half-life, and when injected into the blood it releases the majority of its bound NO in the first organ it encounters. This has the potential to revolutionize treatment of a number of diseases with huge unmet medical need."

Attgeno is a Swedish biotech company partly financed by Sweden’s Innovation Agency Vinnova.

For more information, contact Per Agvald, Attgeno’s CEO at +46 (0)70-645 7827.