Breakthrough Therapies Offer New Hope for Pulmonary Hypertension Patients With Sotatercept: Dr. Prashant Bobhate
The alarming rise in sudden, unexplained deaths among young and seemingly healthy individuals has forced renewed attention on silent yet deadly cardiovascular conditions. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), a progressive and often misdiagnosed disease, is emerging as one of the underlying culprits. With symptoms that mimic fatigue or general breathlessness, PAH is frequently detected late — when heart failure or irreversible damage has already begun.
At the forefront of tackling this crisis is Dr. Prashant Bobhate, a leading Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist in Mumbai, India, whose contributions have transformed the diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension in children and young adults. As Senior Consultant at the Children’s Heart Centre, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Dr. Prashant Bobhate has established one of the most advanced Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) clinics in the country — a multidisciplinary, data-driven hub managing over 900 patients with personalized and cutting-edge care.
A major milestone in PAH treatment has been the global introduction of Sotatercept, a revolutionary therapy that goes beyond symptom control to actually reverse disease progression. By targeting the cellular mechanism behind vascular remodeling, Sotatercept offers real hope for improved heart function and long-term survival. Dr. Bobhate calls this a “game changer” in PH care. “Sotatercept gives us the unique ability to intervene at the root of the disease. It’s not just about reducing breathlessness — it’s about changing the natural course of the illness.” We have three patients on Sotatercept, all of whom have shown amazing results. Two were in wheelchairs when we started, and now they can walk almost 450 meters in 6 minutes.
Dr. Bobhate’s clinic has also led the way in offering prostacyclin analogue therapy, a life-extending medication not yet available in the Indian market. Through international procurement mechanisms, his team now manages more than 50 patients on long-term prostacyclin — many of whom have regained their ability to study, work, and live without constant medical crisis. His model of compassionate access is now being studied as a template by other cardiac centers across India.
In terms of surgical innovation, Dr. Bobhate has set a national benchmark with India’s highest single-center record of 36 successful Potts Shunt surgeries. This highly specialized procedure is offered to patients with severe PAH who are unresponsive to medications. By creating a controlled bypass between the lung and body artery, the Potts Shunt significantly reduces heart strain, often enabling patients to discontinue aggressive treatments. “These children go from being wheelchair-bound to running again,” he says. “That’s the real impact of precision surgery done at the right time.”
Another of his pioneering achievements includes the detection and management of rare conditions such as Abernathy Malformation, a treatable but often overlooked cause of pulmonary hypertension. In one such case, timely diagnosis and intervention led to complete recovery — avoiding what would have otherwise been a lifelong cardiac burden.
Dr. Bobhate’s clinic is also one of the few in the country to integrate fetal echocardiography as a frontline screening tool, enabling cardiac evaluation in utero between 16–18 weeks of gestation. High-risk pregnancies now undergo early fetal heart scans, allowing families to plan treatment from the moment of birth — a level of preparedness that significantly improves survival and outcomes in complex congenital cases.
His work has earned international acclaim, including:
- Best Oral Presentation – European Pediatric Cardiac Conference, Athens
- Best Oral Paper – Society of Heart Failure and Transplant, Mumbai
- Young Investigator Award – Pediatric Cardiac Society of India
- First Prize – Cardiology Society of India, Cochin
Yet, for Dr. Bobhate, the greatest reward lies in seeing children thrive. “It’s not just about treating numbers on a report. It’s about giving every child a fair chance at life — to run, play, and dream without fear of collapse.”
As he continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in pediatric cardiac care — from drug innovation to surgical excellence — Dr. Prashant Bobhate stands as a national leader and global contributor in the field of pulmonary hypertension. His dedication not only saves lives but redefines what is achievable for children with life-threatening heart conditions.
Dr. Prashant Bobhate
Pediatric Cardiologist | MD (Peds), FNB (Peds Card), FPVRI
Senior Consultant – Children’s Heart Centre, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai
+91 8080 826 898
prashantbobhate@gmail.com
https://phindia.net/
Read more: Top Business Magazine
