Bayer lung drug shows promise in long-term trial

FRANKFURT May 18 (Reuters) - Bayer's BAYG.DE experimental pill riociguat showed long-term benefits in treating a life-threatening lung disease, increasing the odds of the potential blockbuster coming to market.

After treatment for about 17 months on average, patients suffering from two types of pulmonary-hypertension, CTEPH and PAH, were able to endure more physical exercise than before, according to data posted on the American Thoracic Society's Web site on Tuesday.

The results from the Phase II study demonstrate that the benefits that emerged after about three months of treatments -- published a year ago -- were sustained in subsequent months. [ID:nFAB013122]

The pill was generally well tolerated and had a favourable safety profile, according to the study.

Bayer, which expects between 500 million euros ($616 million) and 1 billion euros in peak annual sales from the treatment, has said it expects to get results on a subsequent Phase III trial next year.

Bayer had entered the third and last phase of testing required for regulatory approval in February 2009.

Should riociguat also prove to be effective in patients with "smoker's lung", or COPD, revenue could rise well above 1 billion euros, giving it so-called "blockbuster" status, the outgoing head of Bayer's healthcare division Arthur Higgins told Reuters last year. [ID:nLE624388]

Pulmonary hypertension, which affects more than 2.5 million people worldwide, is a form of high blood pressure in the lungs causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting.

The market is currently focused on treatments against PAH, a type of hypertension affecting the lung's arteries, and treatment is dominated by Tracleer.

Swiss biotech firm Actelion (ATLN.VX) derived 1.5 billion Swiss francs ($1.32 billion) in sales from Tracleer last year. ($1=.8114 Euro) ($1=1.136 Swiss Franc) (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)