Endothelin Receptor Antagonist

Macitentan

Approved 18 Aug 2025OralTablet

The FDA lists this product in 11 strengths and forms.

Indications

Macitentan tablets are an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I) in adults to reduce the risk of disease progression and hospitalization for PAH ( 1.1 ).

1.1Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Macitentan tablets are an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I) in adults to reduce the risks of disease progression and hospitalization for PAH. Effectiveness was established in a long-term study in PAH patients with predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms treated for an average of 2 years. Patients had idiopathic and heritable PAH (57%), PAH caused by connective tissue disorders (31%), and PAH caused by congenital heart disease with repaired shunts (8%) [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] .

Contraindications

Pregnancy ( 4.1 )
Hypersensitivity ( 4.2 )

4.1Pregnancy

Macitentan may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Macitentan is contraindicated in females who are pregnant. Macitentan was consistently shown to have teratogenic effects when administered to animals. If macitentan is used during pregnancy, advise the patient of the potential risk to a fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] .

4.2Hypersensitivity

Macitentan is contraindicated in patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to macitentan or any component of the product [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)] .

Warnings and precautions

Indications

1.1Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Contraindications

Pregnancy ( 4.1 )
Hypersensitivity ( 4.2 )

4.1Pregnancy

4.2Hypersensitivity

Macitentan is contraindicated in patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to macitentan or any component of the product [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)] .

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary Based

on data from animal reproduction studies, macitentan may cause embryo-fetal toxicity, including birth defects and fetal death, when administered to a pregnant female and is contraindicated during pregnancy. There are risks to the mother and the fetus associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension in pregnancy [see Clinical Considerations]. Available data from postmarketing reports and published literature over decades of use with ERAs in the same class as macitentan have not identified an increased risk of major birth defects; however, these data are limited.

Methodological limitations of these postmarketing reports and published literature include lack of a control group; limited information regarding dose, duration, and timing of drug exposure; and missing data. These limitations preclude establishing a reliable estimate of the risk of adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes with maternal ERA use. Macitentan was teratogenic in rabbits and rats at all doses tested. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, advise the patient of the risk to a fetus [see Contraindications (4.1)] .

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-associated Maternal or Embryo/Fetal Risk In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, pregnancy is associated with an increased rate of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, including spontaneous abortion, intrauterine growth restriction and premature labor.

Data Animal Data In both rabbits and rats, there were cardiovascular and mandibular arch fusion abnormalities. Administration of macitentan to female rats from late pregnancy through lactation caused reduced pup survival and impairment of the male fertility of the offspring at all dose levels tested.

Adverse reactions

Clinically significant adverse reactions that appear in other sections of the labeling include:

Embryo-fetal Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
Fluid Retention [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
Decrease in Hemoglobin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] Most common adverse reactions (more frequent than placebo by ≥3%) are anemia, nasopharyngitis/pharyngitis, bronchitis, headache, influenza, and urinary tract infection ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1Clinical Trial Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Safety data for macitentan were obtained primarily from one placebo-controlled clinical study in 742 patients with PAH (SERAPHIN study) [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] .

The exposure to macitentan in this trial was up to 3.6 years with a median exposure of about 2 years (N=542 for 1 year; N=429 for 2 years; and N=98 for more than 3 years). The overall incidence of treatment discontinuations because of adverse events was similar across macitentan 10 mg and placebo treatment groups (approximately 11%). Table 2 presents adverse reactions more frequent on macitentan than on placebo by ≥3%.

Table 2: Adverse Reactions Adverse Reaction Macitentan 10 mg ( N=242 ) (%) Placebo (N=249) (%) Anemia 13 3 Nasopharyngitis/pharyngitis 20 13 Bronchitis 12 6 Headache 14 9 Influenza 6 2 Urinary tract infection 9 6

6.2Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of macitentan. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Immune system disorders : hypersensitivity reactions (angioedema, pruritus and rash) Vascular disorders: flushing Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders : nasal congestion Gastrointestinal disorders: Elevations of liver aminotransferases (ALT, AST) and liver injury have been reported with macitentan use; in most cases alternative causes could be identified (heart failure, hepatic congestion, autoimmune hepatitis).

Endothelin receptor antagonists have been associated with elevations of aminotransferases, hepatotoxicity, and cases of liver failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. General disorders and administration site conditions : edema/fluid retention. Cases of edema and fluid retention occurred within weeks of starting macitentan, some requiring intervention with a diuretic, fluid management or hospitalization for decompensated heart failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] .

Cardiac disorders : symptomatic hypotension

Macitentan

Indications

1.1Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Contraindications

4.1Pregnancy

4.2Hypersensitivity

Warnings and precautions

Two medicines in one question?

Macitentan

Indications

1.1Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Contraindications

4.1Pregnancy

4.2Hypersensitivity

Warnings and precautions

Two medicines in one question?

5.1Embryo-fetal Toxicity Based

5.2Hepatotoxicity

5.3Fluid Retention

5.4Hemoglobin Decrease Decreases

5.5Pulmonary Edema with Pulmonary Veno-occlusive Disease (PVOD)

5.6Decreased Sperm Counts

Interactions

7.1Strong CYP3A4 Inducers

7.2Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors

7.3Moderate Dual or Combined CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 Inhibitors

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary Based

Adverse reactions

6.1Clinical Trial Experience

6.2Postmarketing Experience

Composition

Strengths and forms

Official product information

At a glance