Vericiguat: A Novel Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator for Use in Patients With Heart Failure

Cardiol Rev. 2023 Mar-Apr;31(2):87-92. doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000431. Epub 2022 Jan 21.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) affects 6.2 million Americans and is increasing annually in its frequency. Treatment of HF has been at the forefront of medical advancements due to the financial burden on our health care system. As such, changes to the guidelines regarding standard of care have been evolving over the last decade with the recent additions of sacubitril-valsartan and sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors to standard of care in the treatment of HF. Despite the aforementioned expansions in treatment options, HF continues to have a significant impact on the American health care system. Most recently, a novel drug vericiguat that targets an unprecedented pathway for the treatment of HF was Food and Drug Administration approved for the management of patients with HF with a reduced ejection fraction with a recent hospitalization or need for outpatient intravenous diuretics. In clinical trials, vericiguat was associated with a reduction in death from cardiovascular causes and first hospitalization in comparison to placebo. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive literature analysis of the various trials surrounding the approval of vericiguat and to both inform and synthesize the data surrounding the clinical use of vericiguat. The introduction of Vericiguat should be considered as a treatment option in patients to decrease the mortality/morbidity of HF with reduced ejection fraction and to increase the quality of life.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Heart Failure* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / metabolism
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / pharmacology
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / therapeutic use
  • Stroke Volume
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left*

Substances

  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase
  • vericiguat
  • Vasodilator Agents