Quick Facts: What is Yutrepia?

What it is

Yutrepia is a new drug: an inhaled form of treprostinil, a prostacyclin analogue. It was just approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA.

Who it's for

Yutrepia is approved in the USA for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), to improve exercise ability. Originally, it was approved only for PAH patients, but the company then asked for approval for use in PH-ILD patients as well. It's not approved for other types of PH because it dilates blood vessels, which could lead to dangerously low blood pressure in people whose pulmonary hypertension is associated with other heart or lung issues.

What we know

It's designed to be easy to inhale while still reaching deep in the lungs. Inhaling the drug gets it right where it needs to be -- in the lungs -- so more of it stays there and less of it ends up in the rest of the body. Patients in clinical trials in the USA preferred it to another inhaled version of treprostinil (Tyvaso) that's already available. Tyvaso and Yutrepia will be the same price -- about US$25,000 per month.

What we don't know

We don't know whether Liquidia will seek approval for Yutrepia in Canada. This means Yutrepia won't be available in Canada unless and until they seek Health Canada approval. No inhaled or oral prostacyclin analogues have been approved in Canada yet, including Tyvaso.