Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42073043›Full record

ReviewChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Sotatercept in Children with Pulmonary Hypertension-A Narrative Review.

Johanna Schulz, Veronika C Stark, Lars Harbaum, Rainer Kozlik-Feldmann, Thomas S Mir, Fridrike Stute, Jakob Olfe

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Johanna SchulzPediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.ORCID 0009-0006-2268-0774
Veronika C StarkPediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-3978-1804
Lars HarbaumDivision of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Rainer Kozlik-FeldmannPediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-6222-2683
Thomas S MirPediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8337-5187
Fridrike StutePediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Jakob OlfePediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4449-7739

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but life-threatening disease that presents particular therapeutic challenges in children. It is characterized by pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling, leading to right ventricular strain and eventually right heart failure. Although advances in pharmacotherapy have improved outcomes, treatment options remain limited. This review aims to evaluate the potential role of sotatercept, a novel fusion protein recently approved for adult PAH, and to assess the translatability of adult data to the pediatric population.

methodsA narrative synthesis of preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials was conducted to summarize the current evidence on sotatercept. In addition, pathophysiological, developmental, and therapeutic differences between adult and pediatric PAH were critically examined to assess relevance and applicability to younger patients.

resultsClinical trials in adults (PULSAR, STELLAR, ZENITH, HYPERION) confirm sotatercept's efficacy on background therapy, with significant reductions in pulmonary vascular resistance, improvements in 6 min walk distance, enhanced right ventricular function, and risk reductions in clinical worsening events. However, extrapolation to pediatric PAH faces challenges including etiological differences (e.g., PAH-CHD predominance, PPHN in infants), age-inappropriate endpoints (e.g., 6MWD infeasible in young children), variable growth-related pharmacokinetics, and compensatory RV physiology delaying overt failure. Safety concerns are manageable in adults but raise pediatric-specific alarms: activin inhibition's theoretical tumorigenic potential (dual tumor suppressor/promoter role), pubertal/fertility disruption (FSH suppression, gonadal maturation delay), and skeletal growth interference-unproven clinically yet demanding long-term monitoring. The ongoing MOONBEAM trial will provide initial pharmacokinetic/safety data in children.

conclusionsSotatercept represents a promising, first-in-class therapeutic option for PAH with the potential to transform disease management. Nevertheless, dedicated pediatric studies are crucial to confirm safety, efficacy, and appropriate dosing and to define its role in the long-term treatment of children with PAH.

Indexed as

childrendisease-modifying therapypediatric pulmonary hypertensionpersistent pulmonary hypertension of the newbornpulmonary vascular remodelingsotatercept

Identifiers

PMID42073043
PMCPMC13114489

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.