• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Drug Delivery Business

  • Clinical Trials
  • Research & Development
  • Drug-Device Combinations
  • FDA
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Policy

FDA approves IV drug to treat dangerously low blood pressure

December 22, 2017 By Sarah Faulkner

FDAThe FDA today approved an intravenous injection drug to treat low blood pressure in adult patients with septic shock.

The drug, Giapreza, is made by La Jolla Pharmaceutical (NSDQ:LJPC) and was given priority review by the FDA.

“Shock, the inability to maintain blood flow to vital tissues, can result in organ failure and death,” Dr. Norman Stockbridge, director of the cardiovascular and renal products division in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in prepared remarks. “There is a need for treatment options for critically ill hypotensive patients who do not adequately respond to available therapies.”

In a 321-patient trial, Giapreza more effectively increased blood pressure in shock patients compared to a placebo.

The drug can cause blood clots in arteries and veins, including deep venous thrombosis, the FDA cautioned, so doctors should give prophylactic treatment for blood clots alongside Giapreza.

“We appreciate FDA’s rapid review and approval of Giapreza and are especially grateful to the patients, families and dedicated critical care teams who made the development of Giapreza possible,” Dr. George Tidmarsh, La Jolla’s president & CEO, said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing this new treatment option to the many critically ill patients suffering from septic or other distributive shock.”

LJPC shares were trading at $31.46 apiece in mid-morning activity today, up 11%.

Want to stay on top of DDBN content? Sign up for our e-mail newsletter for a weekly dose of drug-device news.

Filed Under: Featured, Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Pharmaceuticals, Regulatory/Compliance, Vascular Tagged With: lajollapharmaceutical

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

  • Insulet hires new chief HR officer from J&J
  • Breakthrough T1D, Mattel debut Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes
  • Medtronic Diabetes names CFO with consumer experience ahead of separation
  • Diabeloop launches insulin delivery algorithm in Germany
  • GlucoModicum has positive data for needle-free CGM

Primary Sidebar

“ddb
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in drug delivery.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.

Footer

Drug Delivery Business News Logo

MassDevice Medical NETWORK

MassDevice
DeviceTalks
Medical Tubing + Extrusion
Medical Design & Outsourcing
MedTech100 Index
Drug Discovery & Development
Pharmaceutical Processing World
Medical Design Sourcing
R&D World

DRUG DELIVERY BUSINESS NEWS

Subscribe to Drug Delivery’s E-Newsletter
Advertise with us
About
Contact us
Privacy
Listen to our Weekly Podcasts

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy | RSS