Dose-response Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Beraprost Sodium Modified Release (BPS-MR) in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Inclusion Criteria

• IRB approved written informed consent has been obtained.
• Male or female, age 18 to 75 years (inclusive).
• Established diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension that is either idiopathic or familial PAH, collagen vascular disease associated PAH, PAH induced by anorexigens, or PAH associated with repaired congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts (repaired ≥5 years).
• Clinically stable PAH as determined by the Investigator.
• Able to walk unassisted.
• Has a complete, unencouraged 6MWT distance of 150 to 450 meters (inclusive) at Screening.
• Previous (at any time) right heart cardiac catheterization with findings consistent with PAH, specifically mean Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAPm) ≥25 mmHg (at rest), Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) (or left ventricular end diastolic pressure) ≤15 mmHg, and Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR) >3 mmHg/L/min.
• Previous (at any time) chest radiograph consistent with the diagnosis of PAH.
• Has been on a stable course of an ERA or/and PDE-5 inhibitor for a minimum of 60 days prior to Baseline.
• Women of child-bearing potential (defined as less than 1 year post-menopausal or not surgically sterile) must be using an acceptable method of birth control or practicing abstinence. If sexually active, female patients must use a double barrier method of birth control, such as a condom and spermicidal. Patient must have a negative pregnancy test at the Screening and Baseline visits.
• Willing and able to comply with study requirements and restrictions.

Exclusion Criteria

• Has pulmonary venous hypertension, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
• Has a history of interstitial lung disease, unless:
• Pulmonary Function Testing conducted within 6 months of the Baseline visit demonstrates a Total Lung Capacity ≥ 70 % of predicted.
• Has a history of obstructive lung disease, unless:
• Pulmonary Function Testing conducted within 6 months of the Baseline visit demonstrates a forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio of ≥ 50%.
• Is pregnant and/or lactating.
• Changed or discontinued any PAH medication within 60 days prior to the Baseline visit including, but not limited to, an ERA, PDE-5 inhibitor, or calcium channel blocker (with the exception of anticoagulants).
• Has an ongoing hemorrhagic condition (e.g. upper digestive tract hemorrhage, hemoptysis, etc), or has a pre-existing condition that, in the Investigator's judgment may increase the risk for developing hemorrhage during the study (e.g. hemophilia). Transient hemorrhage (e.g. epistaxis, normal menstrual bleeding, gingival bleeding, hemorrhoidal hemorrhage, etc.) will not preclude enrollment.
• Has donated blood or plasma, or has lost a volume of blood >450mL within 6-weeks of the Baseline visit.
• Has received any investigational medication, device or therapy within 30 days prior to the Baseline visit or is scheduled to receive another investigational drug, device or therapy during the course of the study.
• Has received any prostanoid therapy at any time.
• Has any preexisting disease known to cause pulmonary hypertension other than collagen vascular disease.
• Has any musculoskeletal disease or any other disease that would limit ambulation.
• Has any form of unrepaired or recently repaired ( 15 mmHg or left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% as assessed by either multigated angiogram, angiography or echocardiography, or left ventricular shortening fraction < 22% as assessed by echocardiography. Note that patients in whom abnormal left ventricular function is attributed entirely to impaired left ventricular filling due to the effects of right ventricular overload (i.e. right ventricular hypertrophy and/or dilatation) will not be excluded.
• Presence of atrial fibrillation (determined from 12-lead ECG at Screening).
• Any other clinically significant illness