Bayer takes riociguat into Phase III

Germany-based Bayer Schering Pharma has begun two Phase III trials with its oral, soluble guanylate cyclase agent riociguat in the  treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary  arterial hypertension. CHEST-1 is a Phase III multicenter, double-blind,  randomized, placebo-controlled, 270-patient trial in people with  inoperable CTPH. PATENT-1 is a similarly-constructed, 460-patient study  in people with PAH who are either treatment-naive or are being treated  with an endothelin receptor antagonist or a prostacyclin analog. The  first results from the trials are expected in 2011, while further Phase  II data from previous studies are to be presented in San Diego,  California, at the American Thoracic Society Conference in May this  year.