Bayer reports further riociguat data at ATS

Positive data from a Phase II trial with German drug major Bayer Schering Pharma's oral agent riociguat in chronic thromboembolic  pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension were  presented at the American Thoracic Society international conference in  San Diego.

Results from the multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled Phase II trial  showed that riociguat significantly improved exercise capacity from  baseline values in patients with CTEPH and PAH. Riociguat also  demonstrated strong and significant effects on pulmonary hemodynamics  and symptoms in patients with CTEPH and PAH.

The data presentation at the ATS follows an earlier presentation of  positive topline Phase II findings at the Annual Congress of the  European Respiratory Society in October last year. Based on these data,  randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase III trials in CTEPH and PAH were  initiated in December 2008, with first results from the study program  currently expected in 2011. In addition to the CHEST and PATENT trials,  further Phase II studies of riociguat in patients suffering from other  forms of PH, such as PH secondary to interstitial lung disease, are  ongoing. First results from the PH-ILD study are currently expected in  2009.